Form and Size: The leafy stems of sweet William are 18 – 28
inches long. The flower head is daisy-like with fringed petals
protruding out from a center disc. There are many blooms that
cluster tightly together on one stem. 5 – 10 days Remove any
leaves from the bottom of the stem that will fall below the
water line, cut stems under water and place in fresh water with
flower food. History and Usage: A member of the Caryophyllaceae
(pink) family, sweet William originated in southern Europe. Its
botanical name comes from the word “di” which is Greek for of
Zeus or Jove and “anthos” which is Greek for flower. There are
various stories that attempt to explain how it got its popular
name. One story states that the name came from the word
"oeillet" which is French for eye. This is in reference to the
eye of the flower, which is often a different color than the
petals. It was then shortened to “Willy” and then in English,
William. Another explanation states that it is named that in
honor of St. William or William Sha