Introduction
Stock is an upright annual growing to about 18 inches tall with 1½ inch diameter flowers borne toward the top of the plant. Stock is well adapted to planting in central Florida in late winter for a good flower display for about one month in late spring.
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS
General Information
Scientific name: Matthiola incana
Pronunciation: math-EYE-oh-luh in-KAY-nuh
Common name(s): stock, gillyflower, tenweeks stock
Family: Brassicaceae
Plant type: biennial; perennial; herbaceous
USDA hardiness zones: all zones (Figure 2)
Planting month for zone 7: Jun; Jul
Planting month for zone 8: May; Jun
Planting month for zone 9: Apr; May; Nov; Dec
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: Feb; Mar; Nov; Dec
Origin: not native to North America
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Uses: mass planting
Availability: grown in small quantities by a small number of nurseries
Credit:
Description
Height: 1 to 2.5 feet
Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Plant habit: upright
Plant density: open
Growth rate: moderate
Texture: medium
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: undulate
Leaf shape: oblanceolate
Leaf venation: reticulate
Leaf type and persistence: deciduous
Leaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: not applicable
Fall characteristic: not applicable
Flower
Flower color: lavender; pink; red; white; yellow
Flower characteristic: summer flowering; fall flowering; pleasant fragrance
Fruit
Fruit shape: no fruit
Fruit length: no fruit
Fruit cover: no fruit
Fruit color: not applicable
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable
Current year stem/twig color: green
Current year stem/twig thickness: medium
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun
Soil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; acidic; slightly alkaline
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 12 to 18 inches
Other
Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: not applicable
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Pest resistance: very sensitive to one or more pests or diseases which can affect plant health or aesthetics
Use and Management
Cultivars in the 'Harmony' series including 'Harmony Cherry Blossom' and 'Harmony Purple' are well suited for Florida.
Related species: M. longipetala var. bicornis (evening stock) is an unsightly annual that adds night time fragrance to the landscape.
