Matthiola incana

Hoary Stock, Gilliflower, Common Stock, Brompton stock, Tenweeks stock, Gilly-flower, Gillyflower, Ten-week Stock, Ten-weeks Stock, Wild Stock, Stock, Matthiola incana

Description

A biennial or perennial ornamental herb native to the coastal regions of the Mediterranean, with a compact growth habit and an upright habit. Its abundant and showy flowering consists of flowers arranged in spikes, displaying a wide range of colours and a sweet fragrance, which is also attractive to beneficial insects such as butterflies. Easy to grow, it is popular for decorating flowerbeds and borders, as well as terraces, balconies and windowsills in pots and planters, including in mixed plantings with other ornamental plants. The flower stems of some varieties can be cut and used to create fresh floral arrangements.