Stock - Flower

Common Names: Stock, stock flower, gilly flower, hoary, ten-weeks

Botanical Name: Matthiola incana

Family: Brassicaceae (cabbage family)

Type: Mostly annual, sometimes biennial

Mature Size: 1-3 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide

Sun Exposure: Full, partial

Soil Type: Well-drained

Soil pH: Neutral

Bloom Time: Spring, summer

Flower Color: Pink, yellow, purple, blue, red, white

Hardiness Zones: 7-10 (USDA)

Native Areas: Europe, Mediterranean

Culture: Plant in rich, well-drained, slightly moist, neutral soil. Does best in full sun to partial shade. Stock flowers prefer cooler temperatures, but cold winters may prevent it from returning as a perennial. It doesn't like extreme humidity and so consistently moist, tropical conditions are not ideal. Does not need heavy amounts of fertilizer. Prefers moderate applications of organic fertilizer. The flowers are edible. 

Pruning: Deadheading stock flowers after the petals wilt keeps the plants looking neat and will help generate new growth and more blooms. This varies from one variety to another.

Pest Control: Stock may be bothered by aphids, flea beetles, and cabbage white caterpillars. If you see pests on the leaves, gently remove them and cut off any damaged plant parts. Treat serious infestations with spinosad product or orange oil at 2 oz. per gallon of water. For disease control such as fusarium wilt, gray mold, leaf spot, root rot, and verticillium wilt, spray plants with cornmeal tea or 2% hydrogen peroxide. Avoiding overwatering will help prevent most of these pathogens.

Propagation: Stock can be grown easily from seed, but should be sown early as it tends to wilt in late summer heat. Sow seeds in rich neutral soil, barely covering with 1/8 of soil. Maintain good moisture by spraying but don't oversaturate soil. Seedlings should appear within 10-14 days.

Variety "Iron" (from Sakata Ornamentals)

Hybrids/commercial varieties:
'Cinderella': a compact variety that grows no more than 12 in. tall, and has full double flowers in many beautiful pastel shades and some brights.
'Legacy': grows up to 2 ft. tall and bears large double flowers in a variety of bright vivid shades including crimson and purple.
'Starlight Scentsation': grows to 18 in. in height and bears dramatic clusters of single flowers in a range of colors.
'Iron': a series of large double-flowered stock on sturdy stems in a range of colors, and the variety used by many florists for arrangements.
'Antique Pink': features a two-tone pink flower that's usually double; the colorful petals surround pale green centers, a very romantic look.

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