Sweet William 'Holborn Glory' Seeds Seeds Piccolo Seeds
Sweet William 'Holborn Glory' Seeds — Default Title
Sweet William 'Holborn Glory' Seeds Seeds Piccolo Seeds

Sweet William 'Holborn Glory' Seeds

£2.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

Complete the set up
Description

Holborn Glory is a sweet William from the 1920s with a pattern that stops people on the path: dense, domed heads of raspberry red flowers, each one ringed and edged in clean white. The flowers carry a warm, clove-like scent and last well in a vase, and the petals are edible, with a spicy, floral taste that makes them a pretty decoration for cakes and desserts. Dianthus barbatus 'Holborn Glory' grows to around 50 cm on sturdy stems, at home in a cottage border, a cutting patch or a container, and bees and butterflies visit the flowers.

Sowing and growing

  • Sow outdoors in a seedbed, or in trays, May to July for flowers the following year.
  • Sow thinly, about 5 mm deep.
  • Germination takes 7 to 21 days at 15 to 20°C.
  • Move plants to their flowering spot in early autumn, 25 cm apart, in full sun and well-drained soil.
  • Grows to about 50 cm tall and 30 cm wide.
  • Flowers May to July in its second year.
  • Hardy biennial or short-lived perennial: it flowers best in its first flowering summer, so sow a fresh batch each year.

What you receive: a packet of about 100 seeds from Piccolo Seeds, with growing instructions on the back.

Browse our full range of flower and herb seeds, see more summer flowering plants, or find more plants for bees and pollinators.

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sow sweet William seeds?

Sow from May to July. The young plants grow through summer, go into their flowering positions in early autumn and bloom the following May to July. Spring sowings rarely flower in the same year.

Are sweet William flowers edible?

Yes, the petals are edible, with a mild clove-like flavour. Pull them from the flower head and snip off the pale base of each petal, which can taste bitter. Only use flowers that have not been sprayed.

Is sweet William perennial?

It is grown as a biennial. Plants can live a few years, but they flower best in their first flowering summer and get leggy after that. Sowing a little every year keeps the display strong, and it will often self-seed.

What is your returns policy?

We always aim to make sure our customers love our products, but if you do need to return an order within 14 days of purchase (not including plants*), or any items are damaged, we’re happy to help. Just email us directly at hello@growtropicals.com, and we’ll take you through the process. 

Please note: we cannot be held liable for any packaging costs should the original packaging be discarded.

*Unfortunately we cannot accept returns of undamaged plants as these are perishable items and are not saleable upon return. If a plant is damaged, we will compensate for this as per our live arrival guarantee.

When will my order arrive and how much is shipping?

When placing your order, you can choose from three dispatch speeds to suit your needs: Economy (prepared and shipped within 4-5 days), Standard (3-5 days), or Express (dispatched the very next day). Please keep in mind that "dispatch" refers to the time it takes our team to prepare and pack your items before handing them over to the courier, not the total delivery time.

Shipping costs are based on your total order value and will be calculated at checkout, with free shipping automatically applied to all orders over £60. For a full breakdown of shipping prices see our Help Centre.

Additionally, to protect the health and quality of our live plants, orders containing plants are exclusively shipped Monday through Thursday. This careful scheduling prevents your plants from being stuck in a dark shipping depot over the weekend, ensuring they arrive at your door vibrant and healthy.

Why Grow Tropicals

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Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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