How to Grow and Care for Stock Flowers

About Growing Stock Plants in Your Home Flower Garden

Take stock of the flowers in your yard. Hopefully growing Annual Stock plants are on your list, as it is an attractive, sweet-smelling flowering plant. Stock flowers have a spicy, sweet fragrance. This native of Europe and Asia Minor produces an abundance of flowers on long stems. But, they will only do so in cooler weather.

Stock plants grow up to three feet tall. The flowers make good-cut flowers for indoor arrangements. A dwarf variety, growing just 8″ – 12″ tall, is also available. In addition to being fragrant, the flowers are attractive in a range of bright colors.

Stock thrives in cooler weather or climates. They will not form flower buds in temperatures higher than the mid-60s. In warm weather areas, try planting them in the winter for spring blooms.

These plants will look great filling in your flowerbed, or as a border edging. The taller varieties should go towards the back of the flower garden. Place dwarf varieties upfront. Try them in containers, too. Or, the dwarf varieties will look and smell good in a windowsill planter.

Stock Flowers Plant Specifications

Flower Colors: Varying shades of apricot, blue, lavender, orange, pink, purple, white, and yellow.

Flowers Bloom: Spring through Summer

Plant height: One to three feet tall, depending upon variety.

Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5.

Light Requirement: Partial sunlight to full sun.

Hardiness Zones: 7 – 10.

Are Plants Toxic? Yes.

Deer Resistant? No. Look out your window and you may see deer or other foraging animals munching on Stock flowers.

Number of Species: 50.

Native To: Mediterranean region.

Plant Type: Annuals and Biennials.

Botanical Name: Matthiola incana

Other Names: Brompton Stock, Gilly Flower, Hoary Stock, Ten-Week Stock.

Are Stock Flowers Edible?

NO!!

All parts of the plant are toxic, especially the seeds. They are toxic to children and pets. Consumption causes diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Also, Stock flowers cause skin irritation. So, use gloves when handling this plant.

Important Note: In our research, we discovered some sources that say Stock flowers are edible. We found one website with two conflicting articles. One of the articles said it was safe to eat. While the other said it is not safe for consumption. We always err on the side of caution and warn you not to eat any part of this plant.

Medicinal Uses for Stock Plants

Despite its toxicity, this plant has a few herbal and home medicinal applications. It includes antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Here are some of the medical uses:

It is used as a diuretic.
An infusion containing this plant treats some forms of cancer.
Use it as an expectorant to clear the lungs and as an aid in relieving respiratory issues.

Important Note: This is a toxic plant. As a result, we strongly recommend you do not use this plant for home medical applications without the proper education on how to properly prepare and use this plant.

Light Requirements

Stock flowers are a cool weather plant. They grow their best and produce the most prolific blooms when given indirect light. This is especially true in hotter climates.

Give the plants at least three to four hours of indirect light. A planting location that offers morning sunlight and afternoon shade is ideal.

Annual Stock Plant Propagation

Stock plants are grown from seeds. Stock seeds can be directly seeded into your flower garden, or seeded indoors for transplanting later.

Sow Stock seeds early in the season and cover lightly with 1/8″ of fine garden or potting soil. Water thoroughly when planting. Keep the soil moist.

Transplant Stock into your garden after the last frost date for your area. Space them seven to twelve inches apart. They will tolerate a little crowding.

Final Plant Spacing: Space plants 7 – 12 inches apart.

Days to Germination: Seeds sprout in 7 – 10 days.

About Seed Germination

How to Grow Stock Flower Plants

Planting and soil needs:

Stock flowers grow best in indirect light with a couple hours of full sunlight. In cool areas of the country, they tolerate full sun for part of the day. Select a planting location where they receive morning sun and are shaded in the afternoon. The plants prefer rich, loose soil that drains well. Mix plenty of rich compost just before planting. Add a general-purpose fertilizer when planting them. Then, keep the soil moist, but not wet during the germination period.

Once your Stock plants are established, they should grow well with few problems.

Fertilizer needs:

Stock flowers are not heavy feeders. In rich soil you may not need any fertilizer. In poor or average soil, fertilize the plants every five to six weeks.

Water Needs:

After the plants are established, keep the soil moist to slightly dry. Water them during dry periods, once or twice per week.

Other:

Keep the area well-weeded. Also, apply a 2-3 inch thick layer of mulch This helps to keep the roots cool and retains moisture in the soil. It also provides tidy appearance.

Both biennial and annual stock plants usually survive a light frost.

How to Grow Stock Plants in Containers and Flowerpots

Is your balcony partially shaded? That’s a good thing for Stock flowers. These plants are good candidates to grow in flowerpots and containers on a partially sunny balcony or deck. The shorter dwarf varieties are perfect to grow in windowsill planters, too.

In addition to normal plant care (above), here’s how to grow Stock flowers in containers:

Select a partially sunny location on your balcony or deck.
It is important to have a drain hole in the container to allow excess water to drain from the pot.
Keep an eye on the moisture level. Check the plants every few days, especially in extended periods of hot, dry weather.
Keep the soil moist to slightly dry. They prefer dry soil. So, allow the top of the soil to dry between watering.
When watering the plants, thoroughly wet the soil. Excess water will drain through the hole in the bottom of the flowerpot.
Nutrients in a flowerpot are limited. So, use fertilizer spikes to feed the plants. Or, apply a light solution of liquid fertilizer every two to three weeks.

Insects and Plant Disease

Insect and disease problems are not common. treat with insecticide, repellents, or fungicides, as needed.

Also see: Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures, too.

Pruning Stock Flowers

Biennial and annual Stock plants need little or no pruning during the growing season. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased leaves and stems as soon as you spot them. Also, you can remove an occasional leggy stem to help maintain a neat plant shape.

Deadhead the Stock flowers to encourage more buds to form. If you want to save some of the seeds, as Fall nears allow a few dead flowers to remain on the bush to produce seeds. Then after the seeds have matured and dried, you can harvest some of the seeds to plant in another location next year. Importantly, don’t forget to give some of the seeds to your gardening friends.

Overwintering Biennial Stock Plants

If you are growing annual Stock flowers, simply pull up the plants after the first killing frost in the Fall. Then, toss the plants into your composter or compost pile.

Overwintering Biennial Stock Plants Outdoors

The plants are fairly cold hardy. Do not cut the plant back in the Fall. Apply a thick layer of mulch over the root area to protect the roots. Then, in the early spring, rake off the excess mulch. Early spring is the time to cut back any growth that has died during the winter months. Prune off any winter-damaged or dead plant growth.

For Overwintering Stock Plants in Containers

If left outdoors in cold northern climates, the roots can freeze and die. So, plan on sheltering the containers from the most brutal winters. Bring the container into a cool garage or shed. Or, try growing them indoors. They grow well in partial shade. So, they can overwinter near, but not in, a sunny window. Bring the containers back onto your patio or deck in early spring after all danger of frost has passed.