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Herbaceous Perennial

Matthiola incana

Brompton stock

A woody-based perennial, sometimes short-lived, with narrow, grey-green foliage. Upright spikes of sweet-scented pink, mauve, purple, violet or white flowers, up to 2.5cm across, are produced in late spring and early summer. Many cultivars of this species are grown as annual or biennial bedding plants, or for cut flowers

Other common names

cluster-leaved stock
common stock
see morehoary stock
hopes
queen's stock
wallflower stock
gilliflower

Synonyms

Matthiola incana 'Brompton'
Matthiola arborescens

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Plant nurseries
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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Brassicaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Matthiola can be annuals, perennials or subshrubs, with simple or lobed leaves and dense terminal racemes or panicles of fragrant, 4-petalled flowers
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sunny, sheltered bed where the soil is well-drained and neutral to slightly alkaline

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in gentle heat in early spring or sow in midsummer and protect young plants over winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Susceptible to aphids, flea beetles and cabbage root fly

Diseases

May be affected by club root, a downy mildew, root rot and a virus

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