Matthiola

( math - EYE - oh - luh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly known as Stock, this genus includes species of flowering annual, biennial and perennial plants native to the Mediterranean. Species need full sun to light shade and regular water for best performance in the landscape. They are considered old-fashioned, often found in cottage and informal gardens. They produce narrow, grey-green leaves and erect spikes of fragrant, colorful flowers, most commonly in shades of pink, and are popular additions to cut arrangements. They do best in cooler climates. Grow Stock in containers or mixed beds and borders as accents, to edge pathways, in mass plantings, or as members of cut flower or pollinator gardens.

Matthiola Species and Varietals

The genus Matthiola is a member of the plant family Brassicaceae and includes about 50 species. The plants in this genus are closely related to those in Erysimum (Wallflower), Hesperis (Dame's Rocket), Lobularia (Sweet Alyssum) and Brassica (Mustard). The genus is named for Italian naturalist Pietro Andrea Mattioli. Stock grows best in USDA hardiness zones 7-10 or Sunset growing zones 1-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Matthiola afghanica (Stock)
These plants are native to Afghanistan and eastern Iran, and are subshrubs that grows well in temperate areas. Heavily scented flowers are pink with whitish centers and have four separated petals that have wavy edges. Individual plants reach up to a height of 12-36 inches at maturity.

Matthiola crassifolia (Thick-Leaved Stock)
This rare species is a perennial and has very thick roots and fleshy leaves. Flowering stems reach between 8 and 32 inches tall and are topped with purple to pinkish fragrant flowers with white sepals. Flowers bloom from February through May. These plants are endemic to Lebanon.

Matthiola fragrans (Fragrant Stock)
This species is native to Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan. It has fragrant flowers. Blooms are typically green, yellow, and maroon to wine-colored. These plants prefer chalky soil medium, and form a basal rosette of dark green foliage. Individual plants reach up to between 8 and 20 inches tall at maturity.

Matthiola fruticulosa (Sad Stock, Dark-Flowered Stock, Stock Flower)
This species is native to the Mediterranean region, and is adapted well to clay soils. Plants produce pinkish-purple flowers atop stalks that reach about 2 feet tall when in bloom.

Matthiola spp. Hybrids and Cultivars (Florists' Matthiola, Florists' Stock, Hybrid Matthiola, Hybrid Stock)
This group of flowering herbaceous plants includes those bred for their beautiful blooms, size, habit, or disease resistances. Cultivars are listed below:

'Alba'

'Antique Pink'

'Apricot'

'Avalanche Supreme'

'Beauty of Nice'

'Buttercream'

'Cinderella'

'Katz Bright Rose'

'Katz Lavender Light'

'Katz Purple'

'Malmaison Pink'

'Midget'

'Pacific Crimson'

'Starlight Scentsation'

'Vintage Brown'

Matthiola incana (Brompton Stock, Common Stock, Hoary Stock, Ten-Week Stock, Gilly-Flower)
This species of Stock is valued for its spicy scent and its use as a cut flower. Flowers can be single or double and come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, lavender, red, purple, blue, yellow, and cream. They need good drainage and light, fertile soil and do not take frost conditions well. Plant in early fall. If you live in an area that receives a lot of rainfall, plant Stock in raised beds to ensure adequate drainage. This species is considered invasive in California (United States) and the Catalonia region of Spain.

Matthiola longipetala (Matthiola bicornis) (Evening Scented Stock, Night-Scented Stock)
This species reaches a foot tall and 9 inches wide (though it can get a little taller) and has small purple flowers. At night, blooms give off a powerful fragrance. This species should be grown as a wintertime annual in areas that have hot summers and mild winters. This species is considered invasive in Australia and the southwestern United States.

Caring for Matthiola

Plant Matthiola in a space in the garden that receives full sun to partial shade. As long as these flowers get at least 2-3 hours of direct sun per day, they will flower well. Indirect sunlight will keep them blooming, but too much direct, hot sun (especially in the later hours of the afternoon) will overwhelm them. A spot in the landscape that gets morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH that is around neutral (7.0). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Water newly planted Stock flowers regularly to help them develop strong root systems. When mature, these plants need less water, able to get by on rainwater alone for most of the year with supplemental waterings during periods of drought. Take care to not overwater, as leaves will begin to yellow. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Snip off spent flower spikes once the flowers on them fade; this will discourage free re-seeding and encourage more blooms to emerge. Many garden ornamental Matthiolas are annuals, replaced each year with fresh plants. Perennial species can have their foliage cut back once plants enter dormancy, and will regrow the following springtime; they can survive for a few years in the garden before needing to be replaced.

Caring for Matthiola in Containers
Matthiola flowers are wonderful in the ground, but can also be grown in containers. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Stock plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

Harvesting Matthiola
Snapdragons, or Snaps, are commonly cultivated for their colorful spikes of blooms. They are one of the most productive early-season bloomers in the cutting garden, and are cut-and-come-again flowers; the more they are harvested, the more blooms are produced. The best varieties for cut flowers are those that feature long, straight stems. Taller varieties are preferred because they can be cut to a wider range of heights. It is recommended for an even harvest to succession sow Snapdragons, planting seeds every few weeks during the early growing season. Harvest flower spikes when at least 2-5 flowers on the spike are opened. Unopened buds may wilt in the vase. The best time of the day to harvest cut flowers is in the morning, after the dew has dried but before the heat of the day sets in. Cut stems at their base using sharp, clean shears or snips and drop them into a bucket of cool water. They have a vase life of between 5 and 16 days if properly cared for.

Propagation

Matthiola, or Stock, are best propagated through harvesting and sowing seeds. To propagate your Stock flowers, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Matthiola by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes between 6 and 15 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Matthiola seed pods are long and light brown to tan when mature.

Matthiola seeds are tiny, rounded discs.

Problems and Pests

Certain Matthiola species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Matthiola, or Stock, plants are susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape: