Evening Stock Flowers: Create a Fragrant Oasis in Your Garden
These unusual strongly scented flowers are a favorite
Looking to try a heavy-hitter powerfully fragrant flower in your garden? Let’s consider the Evening Scented Stock flower, also known as Matthiola Bicornis or sometimes Matthiola longipetala, or Cheiranthus longipetalus.
This unusual plant is a favorite of mine, and one I’ll grow every year. I just sowed my seeds yesterday for these little scent powerhouses.
This is separate from regular stock flowers, not the same plant.
Evening-scented stock flowers are hidden gems in the botanical gardening world. They are a small annual plant that doesn’t look like much, in fact, it can be easily confused with being a weed. Many gardeners have never heard of this plant.
Don’t let their look fool you, however. When the sun starts going down in the evening, this tiny flowering plant releases a heady, powerful floral scent that rivals lilacs and hyacinths. It is stunning to plant near porches and windows that are opened, so the summer breeze carries their delightful perfume in the evening hours.
With silvery green, lance-shaped leaves, these old-fashioned plants grow 18–24 inches (46–61 cm) tall on their stems. Single or double rose, pale pink, lavender, magenta, maroon, or white flowers.
Planting Evening Scented Stock Flowers
Growing evening-scented stock flowers successfully is quite simple. They need to be grown by seed and planted in early spring. They do need exposure to some frost to germinate, the best planting times are February to May depending upon your garden zone.
They can also be started indoors or in a greenhouse two months before the date of your last frost and then transplanted to their new growing position. To maximize the enjoyment season of these cute beauties, stagger the timing of seed planting so the bloom period will be longer. They normally bloom between 6 and 8 weeks.
Choose a sunny spot in your garden with at least 6 hours of sun daily. These flowers can withstand shade however they blossom more in the sun.
Make sure the soil is weed-free and has good drainage. Evening-scented stock flowers like well-draining soil, so add compost or peat moss to thick or compacted soil. This aids drainage and nutrient retention.
After preparing the soil, evenly distribute the seeds just on the surface and lightly cover them 1/8 to 1/4 inch with soil. The small seeds in evening fragrant stock flowers should not be buried too deeply.
Water lightly and keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate, which takes 7–14 days.
You may have to thin the plants to 6 inches if they germinate too closely.
Caring for Evening Scented Stock Flowers
Once planted, evening fragrant stock flowers are low-maintenance but need attention to bloom well. Consider these care tips:
1. Watering
Evening fragrant stock flowers like moist soil, so water them often, especially during hot temperatures. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot. Instead, moisten the soil evenly.
2. Fertilization
Water-soluble plant food should be fed to evening-scented stock blooms every 4–6 weeks. This will provide them with nourishment for healthy development and bright flowers.
3. Deadheading
Regular deadheading promotes flowering. When the blossoms fade, pinch or cut them at the stem root. This will focus the plant’s energy on flowering again throughout the growing season.
4. Mulching
Cover plant bases with organic mulch like wood chips or other natural materials. Mulching retains moisture, inhibits weeds, and controls soil temperature.
5. Support
If your evening fragrant stock flowers grow tall and top-heavy, support them. Use stakes or cages to avoid weight-related bending or breakage.
6. Pest and Disease Control
These flowers are usually pest- and disease-resistant, but aphids, snails, and powdery mildew can damage them. Monitor your plants and act if you see pests or diseases.
Follow these guidelines to keep your evening-scented stock flowers healthy and colorful all season.
These sweet little florals are among my favorite flowers to grow. I buy my seeds over on Amazon here. I’d love to hear if my fellow gardeners have ever tried growing these and what you thought, post in the comments.
By Val Garner — all rights reserved.
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