Light:sun - partial shade
Form: Flower Spikes
Height: 8-36 inches
Width: 6 to 12 inches
Flower Colors: soft whites, pinks, roses, and blues; bi-colors
Bloom Time: winter - late spring

Special Features:
Beds/Borders
Container
Containers
Cut Flowers
Cutting
Edging
Flowers
Fragrant
Showy Flowers
Winter Interest

A garden cool-season annual favorite for its strong, sweet-and-spicy scent, stock is an old-fashioned cut flower

Double flower types form solid spires of blossoms while single forms are wispy. Both bloom in white, pink, rose, lavender, purple, cream, red and bicolors. The tall column types are usually available only as cut flowers from florists and need five months of temperatures below 65 degrees F. Dwarf types grow just 8 to 15 inches and tend to be more heat-tolerant.

Notable Varieties

• 'Midget' is among the most heat-tolerant and therefore the one of the longest blooming.
• 'Cinderella' produces single or mix colored flowers and grows 8 to 10 inches tall.
• 'Giant Imperial' reaches 2-1/2 feet tall and bears flowers in single or mixed colors.
• 'Trysomic Ten Week' is an early blooming variety and grows 1-1/2 feet tall.
  

Care
Plant stock in full sun in Zones 3 to 6 and part shade in Zones 8-11. Does best when temperatures do not regularly exceed the 80s F. Mulch; keep moist but don't overwater. Fertilize by working in compost two or three times during the season or by applying a slow-release fertilizer, following label directions exactly.

Planting
Plant nursery seedlings in spring 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost. Or sow from seed indoors 8 weeks before last frost. In Zones 8 to 11, you can also plant in mid- to late fall for winter color. Work in plenty of compost at planting time. Space 8 to 16 inches apart.

Pests and Diseases
Powdery mildew, leaf spot, and diamond-back moth may cause problems. Root rot may set in if plant is overwatered.