The Stock flower plant, Matthiola incana, is a highly cherished annual or short-lived perennial, renowned for its captivating fragrance and stately, upright blooms. Originating from the Mediterranean, this delightful plant brings old-world charm to any garden. Growing 1 to 2.5 feet tall, it forms a bushy, upright structure, excellent for adding vertical interest to flowerbeds and borders with its subtle, lance-shaped leaves.

The most celebrated feature of Stock flowers is their dense, spire-like clusters of blossoms along strong central stems. Each flower is typically four-petaled, though double varieties, resembling miniature carnations, are highly prized. They come in a beautiful array of colors: white, cream, pink, rose, purple, and lavender. However, their rich, sweet, clove-like fragrance, potent in the evening, truly distinguishes them.

Stock plants thrive in cool weather and prefer full sun to partial shade, along with fertile, well-drained soil. They are often planted in spring for early summer blooms. Due to their exquisite scent and elegant form, Stock flowers are incredibly popular as cut flowers, gracing bouquets and adding aromatic beauty indoors, as well as enhancing cottage gardens.