This biennial is commonly grown as an annual and has a stout basal stem with an erect branching habit. It has grey-green elliptical leaves and the single or double pink to white cup-shaped flowers appear in a tall raceme above the foliage during spring.

Hardiness zones 6 to 10

Matthiola incana is naturally found in southern Europe growing in coastal regions on cliffs or rocky places.

It prefers a well drained but moist, fertile sandy to clay loam and tolerates chalky soils with a pH range from 5.6 to 7.6 in an open to protected sunny position and is frost and drought tender.

Stock is grown for its flowers and its clumping habit. It is used in bedding displays, annual borders and as a cut flower. It is fast growing establishing in one season and in warmer climates it may be biennial. It is also planted in tubs or planter boxes and dwarf forms are grown in rockeries. ID 198

Note:
Cut flowers should be taken in the morning and scalded for 15 seconds then place in deep clean water.

Matthiola(ma-the-OH-luh) incana(in-KAH-na)

'Matthiola': after Italian botanist Piero Antonio Matthioili; 'incana': hoary (refers to the fine hairs on the leaves of some cultivars).

Brassicaceae(brass-ih-KAY-see-ee)
(Cruciferae)
Cabbage, Mustard, Rapeseed, Turnip and Woad Family