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Brassicaceae
Matthiola incana
Common Stock
The sweetly fragrant flowers of this cool season bedding plant are as beautiful as they are aromatic. Though often grown as annuals, stocks are actually semi-woody short-lived perennials. They are coastal natives, distributed from Spain to Egypt, so they are adapted to high winds and salt exposure.
From late spring to summer, common stock produces upright columns lined with spicy flowers that may be pink, purple, white, violet or mauve. Typically these are four-petaled, but most cultivars have double blossoms (extra petal rows). These appear against clumps of smooth gray-green foliage.
Full to partial sun and perfectly drained, but evenly moist, slightly alkaline soil are required to keep plants happy and healthy. Grow common stock where summers are not scorching and consider staking stems to prevent bending or flopping, especially if flowers are destined for cutting. They make fine additions to any mixed border, cottage garden or container. In hot summer, frost-free regions, grow plants from autumn to spring to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and sunshine.
Stock blooms are wonderful cutflowers that are long-lasting and remain highly fragrant. Many bedding cultivars are bred to be compact, though typically plants can be quite tall. The taller forms offer better flowers for arrangements. Many series of stock are offered that have a wide array of flower colors upon variously sized plants, including the Midget Series, Vintage Series, or Cinderella Series.
8 - 1
6 - 9
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Perennial
Full Sun, Partial Sun
1'-3' / 0.3m - 0.9m
14"-18" / 35.6cm - 45.7cm
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Southern Europe, Western Europe, Mediterranean, Turkey, Northern Africa
Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Salt
Fast
Average Water
Clump-Forming
Spring, Summer, Fall
Showy
Purple, Pink, Rose, Coral, Peach, Blue Violet
Gray Green
Yes
No
Single, Double
Medium
Matte
Semi-Evergreen
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border
Butterflies
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