Matthiola incana

‘Iron Purple’

IRON PURPLE JAPANESE STOCKS

Matthiola incana ‘Iron Purple’
IRON PURPLE JAPANESE STOCKS

The scent of Matthiola incana ‘Iron Purple’ is one of life’s great experiences.
(Not to mention the lovely colour).

Heavenly sweet scent 

‘Iron Purple’ Stocks have that divine, sweet, spicy-clove-vanilla scent that makes us all adore Stocks.
And ‘Iron Purple’ is loaded with that perfume.
The scent is intoxicating – so you can’t stop drinking it in – out in the garden or in a vase.
It is a scent that carries far on the air – bliss.

Velvety deep plum-purple blooms

The blooms are rich, deep plum-purple colour – so easy to place in the garden and vase.

New innovation in stocks from Japan

‘Iron Purple’ is a new innovation in stocks, recently bred in Japan.
With several improvements in performance that makes the flowers much better for both commercial Flower Farmers and home gardeners to enjoy.

Better flower quality

* Longer stems – Stems are much longer than most old European varieties, making them more useful in vases and bouquets, and more outstanding in the garden.
Blooming plants stand at approx. 60-70cm.
* Stronger stems – Stems are much more rigid and stout than older varieties, again better for vase life, and more weather proof for garden or pot life out in the elements.
* Close packed large flowers – Blooms are very closely packed up the stems, giving a lusher, fuller look to the flower heads. Individual flowers are large.
* Plush velvet texture to the petals – Add in their special plush velvety texture to the flowers – wow.
* Tight heads at the top – Many of the older European varieties tend to fall apart and become loose and sparce at the top of the flower spike. Not the “Iron Series”.
They are dense packed with flowers right to the top.
* Higher percentage of double blooms – All varieties of Stocks will throw some plants that have double flowers, and some with single blooms.
In many old varieties doubles will be less the 50%.
Matthiola incana ‘Iron Purple’ throws more doubles, rated at approx. 55% doubles.

You can select seedlings for double or single flowers

The “Iron Series” are a bred to be a “selectable variety” (very handy for commercial cut flower growers).
That is – when the seedlings first sprout and have their cotyledon leaves (the first round leaves – seed casing – that appear before the next set which are the first true leaves) – you can see if they are going to have double or single flowers.

Light green or dark green? / large or small? = Single or Double 

The cotyledons of doubles will be lighter green and the singles dark green.
If hard to see a colour difference – place the sprouting punnet in the fridge for 3-5 days – then the cotyledon colour will be more visible. Weed out the seedlings with darker green leaves if you don’t want to keep any single flowered plants,
Personally I keep them all – They all smell divine, and I just love that colour – single or double.
You can also tell by cotyledon size and shape – Singles have smaller, rounder cotyledon leaves / Doubles have larger, longer cotyledons.    

Just a few stems will scent a whole room

The flowers are heavenly to cut and bring indoors for a vase, as just a few stems will scent the whole room with that bewitching fragrance.

Easy to grow in full sun or part shade

Stocks flower best if they are not too hot, and are a great flower to grow for the cooler months of the year.
So if you garden in a hot climate – plant them where they will receive some afternoon shade, and get going early with your seeds – so you can have them out flowering before and after the hottest period.
But if you garden in a cooler area – they can be planted out in full sun and take you right through spring summer and autumn.

Easy to grow in soil with compost

Stocks are easily grown in well drained soil that has been well enriched with compost or organic matter. 
But do not over fertilize if you want maximum flower production, but rather prepare the soil before planting.
They also prefer a neutral to alkaline soil pH – so some lime is a help.

Divine in pots where you can always sniff

Plants of Matthiola incana ‘Iron Purple’ are ideal in pots, because you can move them to wherever you sit frequently, or have them under your open windows.
They grow well in containers.

Quick & easy to grow from seed

Stocks are very quick and easy to raise from seed – so some growers treat them as annuals, rather than as the short lived perennials that they really are.
But home gardeners can usually cut them back after flowering and have them again next year.

Quick from seed to flower

From seed sowing to blooming is usually about 12 weeks.
But if you want to keep them to bloom again next year – then cut them back after flowering finishes and keep them over winter.
They can survive winter frosts in all but the very coldest areas.

Deer & Rabbit resistant

Matthiola incana ‘Iron Purple’ is a deer and rabbit resistant plant.
As the foliage has a bitter taste that they dislike.
Though they are not completely immune, Stocks are not the favourite munch for any pests.

Magnetic scent for bees, butterflies & pollinators

While our garden friends the pollinators – find the scent of Stocks just as enticing and intoxicating as we do.

Edible flowers

The petals of Matthiola incana ‘Iron Purple’ have a sweet, peppery taste and make a zesty (and visually attractive) addition to salads, desserts and cakes, and garnish for savoury dishes.
While the petals are also popular for crystallizing and decorating cakes.

Medicinal seeds

The seeds also have an age-old reputation as a herbal medicine, and particularly as an aphrodisiac.
Though personally I think the seductiveness is in the fragrance.
The seeds pods are also tasty and peppery in salads (not sure about their aphrodisiac qualities). 

Heavenly scented dried flowers & 

‘Iron Purple’ makes an excellent flower for drying, because petals retain their colour so well.
Plus retains that scent so exceptionally well when dry.

Eco-friendly confetti

Making it perfect for environmentally friendly confetti.
Just cut the flower stems, hang upside down in a dry place out of sunlight, and use as required.

Send a message of affection to a friend

In the old Victorian “Language of Flowers” a bouquet of Stocks symbolizes overflowing affection and contentment.
So much more eloquent than a TikTok.

Tips for Cut Flower Farmers

* Make a succession of sowings every two weeks for continuous flower production over a very long season, preferably during cooler months.
*Do not pinch plants out, just let them grow naturally.
*Harvest stems when 1/3 to 1/2 of the flowers are open, for maximum vase life.
*If stems are to be cool stored before floristry use – the optimum bucket storage temperature in the cool room is 2-5°C.
*Plants have maximum flower production if sowings are timed to flower during cool weather, before and after the heat of full summer.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners & kids

Seeds of Matthiola incana ‘Iron Purple’ are very easy and reliable to germinate. 

Sow at any time indoors in punnets, whenever suitable temperatures can be provided (18-21°C).
Note that stocks bloom best in cool weather – so time sowing to plant out for flowering during spring or autumn.
OR
Scatter directly in the garden during late summer/autumn or winter/early spring.

Sow indoors for quicker and maximum germination: First sow the seeds in a punnet or cell tray, on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then pat gently to ensure good contact with the mix.
Do not cover / or  just lightly cover the seeds with a little sieved mix or fine vermiculite, but do not bury them more than 2mm. deep.
Because these seeds need light to germinate.

Now thoroughly moisten the punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Then drain and place the punnet in a warm, well-lit position (with good light but no direct sunlight).

Keep the seeds warm & moist

Temperatures of 18-21°C approx. are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.
You can use a heat mat to maintain warmth if you have one.
But these seeds are willing germinators with suitable warmth.

Continue to keep the punnet moist by misting the punnet from a spray water bottle regularly.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic cover will also help to maintain necessary consistent moisture.
Stock seeds do appreciate consistent moisture for germination, and resent drying out.

Seeds germinate in approx. 7-14 days.

Once the seedlings have developed their first true leaves, prick out of the punnet into small pots or trays, and grow on until planting out into the garden.

Seed Count: 10 seeds per pack approx. (Sorry – seeds of this special Japanese variety are scarce – But we always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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