Matthiola incana - Mime Rose

Stop and smell the stock! Matthiola incana ‘Mime Rose’ produces upright spires packed with richly colored rose-magenta flowers and the wonderfully spicy, clove-like perfume that makes old-fashioned stock so irresistible. Fresh green foliage creates a crisp backdrop for the ruffled blooms, which may be single or gloriously double. Compact, colorful, and deliciously fragrant, this cool-season charmer brings instant cottage-garden romance wherever it is planted.

Growing approximately 15–18" tall and 6–8" wide, ‘Mime Rose’ has strong, upright stems that fit beautifully into containers, border edges, mass plantings and compact cutting gardens. Plant it in full sun to light shade with fertile, well-drained soil and regular water. Stock performs best during cool weather, flowering in spring and early summer in colder regions and from fall through spring in mild-winter climates. In warmer areas, give it afternoon shade and enjoy the display before serious summer heat arrives.

Plant several together for a lush ribbon of rosy color, or place them near a patio, pathway or open window where their fragrance can drift past. The sturdy flower spikes make lovely additions to bouquets and mingle beautifully with Snapdragons, Sweet Peas, Violas, Poppies, Scabiosa and silvery foliage. Remove fading flower spikes to keep plants neat, and cut stems just as the lower flowers begin opening for the longest possible vase life.

Discover more colorful, one-season wonders in our Annuals collection.