Stock (Matthiola): vase life, season, meaning and care for florists
Matthiola incana
Stock (Matthiola) (Matthiola incana, family Brassicaceae) usually lasts 7–10 days in a vase. In season: Winter, Spring. Fragrance: strong. Typical role in a design: line flower.
- Botanical name
- Matthiola incana
- Family
- Brassicaceae
- Accepted name
- Matthiola incana (L.) W.T.Aiton
- Role in a design
- Line flower
- Vase life
- 7–10 days
- In season
- Winter, Spring
- Fragrance
- Strong
- Colours
- white, pink, purple, yellow
- Meaning
- Lasting beauty and bonds of affection
- Type
- Cut flower
- Pets
- Not flagged as toxic in our knowledge base — check the ASPCA list for the exact species
Cut flower commercial monograph
- Official name
- Stock (Matthiola)
- Botanical name
- Matthiola incana
- Family
- Brassicaceae
- Aliases
- matthiola
- Native origin
- Temperate and subtropical regions worldwide
- Growth habit
- Herbaceous perennial or biennial with sturdy, upright flowering stems.
- Stem length
- 50–70 cm
- Natural colours
- White, Pink, Purple, Yellow
- Natural bloom
- Natural flowering in winter, spring
- Commercial supply
- Peak in winter, spring
- Harvest stage
- Harvest when buds show true colour and outer petals loosen (Stage 2–3).
- Vase life
- 7–10 days
- Cold storage
- Sensitive to cold: keep above 12°C to prevent chilling injury and blackening.
- Special care
- Fouls the water faster than almost any other flower: strip every leaf below the waterline, cut off the white woody base and change the water daily.
- Application
- Serves primarily as Line flower in modern floristry, ideal for table arrangements and event designs.
- Market notes
- Stock (Matthiola) is highly sensitive to ethylene; store away from fruit and fading flowers. Fouls the water faster than almost any other flower: strip every leaf below the waterline, cut off the white woody base and change the water daily.
For florists
Try Stock (Matthiola) in a client design
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Try it as a design — freeCare and conditioning
- Fouls the water faster than almost any other flower: strip every leaf below the waterline, cut off the white woody base and change the water daily.
- Stock (Matthiola) is sensitive to ethylene: store and display it away from ripening fruit, fading flowers and exhaust fumes, or it will drop florets and wilt early.
- Stock (Matthiola) is strongly scented and is a poor fit for hospital visits or condolences.
Where it fits
| Use | Why | |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital visits and condolences | ✕ | Strongly scented — it can bother patients and roommates. |
| Weddings | ✓ | No pollen staining, and it lasts long enough to make up a day ahead. |
| Dining tables and restaurants | ✕ | Strong fragrance competes with food and wine. |
| Homes with cats or dogs | ✓ | Not flagged as toxic in our knowledge base; still check the ASPCA list for the exact species. |
| Making ahead and next-day delivery | ✓ | About 7–10 days in a vase — fine to make up a day ahead. |
Pairs well with
These are available at the same time as stock (matthiola) and have a similar vase life (foliage lasts at least as long), so the arrangement ages evenly:
| Flower | Role | Vase life |
|---|---|---|
| Lily | Focal flower | 7–10 days |
| Lisianthus | Focal flower | 7–14 days |
| Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) | Focal flower | 7–14 days |
| Eucalyptus | Foliage | 10–14 days |
| Monstera leaf | Foliage | 10–14 days |
| Asparagus fern | Foliage | 10–14 days |
Substitutes
When stock (matthiola) is unavailable, out of season or priced up before a holiday, these fill the same role at the same time of year:
| Flower | Vase life | In season | Fragrance | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dendrobium orchid | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | — |
| Snapdragon | 7–10 days | Spring | None | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| Lupin | 5–7 days | Spring, Summer | None | mildly toxic |
| Canterbury bells | 5–8 days | Spring, Summer | None | — |
FAQ
How long does stock (matthiola) last in a vase?
Usually 7–10 days, depending on variety, origin and conditioning.
When is stock (matthiola) in season?
In season in winter, spring; at other times prices can run high or quality can vary.
How do you keep stock (matthiola) fresh?
Fouls the water faster than almost any other flower: strip every leaf below the waterline, cut off the white woody base and change the water daily.
What does stock (matthiola) symbolise?
Lasting beauty and bonds of affection. Flower meanings are popular conventions and vary between cultures.
What colours does stock (matthiola) come in?
Naturally in white, pink, purple, yellow (not counting dyed stems).
What can I use instead of stock (matthiola)?
Flowers with the same role, an overlapping season and a similar vase life: Dendrobium orchid, Snapdragon, Lupin, Canterbury bells.
Related guides
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