Stock
Matthiola, family Brassicaceae
A group of scented flowering plants grown for their colourful blooms
Matthiola, called stock, is a group of about 50 species in the mustard family. These annuals, biennials, and perennials are grown for their fragrant, colourful flowers. Some types are known for their strong scent, especially in the evening. They are popular as garden and cut flowers.
- Matthiola is named after Pietro Andrea Mattioli.
- About 50 species belong to this genus.
- Many are grown for their strong, sweet scent.
- Evening stock and night-scented stock are well-known varieties.
What does Stock look like?
Matthiola, or stock, is a group of flowering plants that includes annuals, biennials, and perennials. The plants are herbaceous or sometimes subshrubs. They are best known for their dense spikes of colourful flowers, which can be white, pink, purple, or other shades, though the sources do not list specific colours. Many species are prized for their strong, sweet scent, especially in the evening.
Where does Stock come from?
The genus Matthiola is named after the Italian naturalist Pietro Andrea Mattioli. It includes about 50 species. While the sources do not give a specific native range, Matthiola species are found in various regions and are mentioned in the Flora of Pakistan. Over time, many species and cultivars have been selected and grown in gardens for their attractive and fragrant flowers.
When and how Stock blooms
Matthiola species can be annual, biennial, or perennial. They are usually grown from seed. Gardeners cultivate them for their flower spikes, which appear in different seasons depending on the species and climate. The plants are valued for their scent and are often used as bedding plants or for cut flowers.
How Stock is used
Stocks are popular in gardens and as cut flowers because of their fragrance and colourful blooms. Some types, such as night-scented stock, are especially valued for their scent in the evening. They are often given as gifts or used to add fragrance to homes and gardens.
Kinds of Stock
The name stock can refer to the whole genus or more specifically to Matthiola incana and its varieties. Matthiola longipetala is called evening stock or night-scented stock for its strong scent at night. Virginia stock is a different plant in the same family.
What Stock means
Matthiola has been cultivated for its flowers and scent for many years. The genus is named in honour of a 16th-century Italian botanist. Its fragrant blooms have made it a favourite in gardens and floral arrangements, but the sources do not mention specific symbolism or cultural meanings.
Where Stock is used and seen
Questions people ask about Stock
Where does Matthiola come from?
The sources do not give a specific native range, but Matthiola species are included in the Flora of Pakistan and are found in various regions.
What does stock look like?
Stock plants have dense spikes of colourful flowers and are usually herbaceous. The flowers are known for their strong, sweet scent, especially in the evening.
What is Matthiola used for?
Matthiola is grown in gardens and used as a cut flower for its fragrance and colourful blooms. It is also given as a gift and used to scent homes.
Are there different types of stock?
Yes, the genus includes about 50 species. Matthiola incana is commonly called stock, while Matthiola longipetala is known as evening or night-scented stock.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Matthiola", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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