Japanese name: ストック Scientific name:Matthiola incana
[Overview]
A perennial about 75 cm tall.
In Japan it is treated as an annual sown from summer to autumn.
The base of the stem becomes woody.
The whole plant is covered with soft gray hairs.
The leaves are simple and alternate, oblong to oblanceolate, about 10 cm long, with entire margins.
Racemes at the branch tips bear fragrant flowers with 4 petals.
The fruit is a silique.
Garden cultivars include double-flowered and dwarf ones.
The main strains are divided into unbranched types, which flower only on the main stem, and branched types, which branch and flower on the side shoots too.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
As long as the site is sunny and well drained, it is not very particular about soil.
The minimum night temperature in winter must be 0–5°C, and frost weakens and kills the plant, so protection from frost is necessary.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
Excessive moisture causes root rot.
If fertilizer is applied at planting, no further fertilizing is particularly necessary.
For tall cultivars, set up stakes so they do not fall over.
Pests and diseases include seedling damping-off, sclerotinia rot, aphids and diamondback moths.
