Matthiola incana
| Matthiola incana | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 6.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Matthiola incana (common name: stock)
Propagation: Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse[1]. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
The seed can also be sown outdoors in situ in mid to late spring.
Cultivation: Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1]. Prefers a fertile neutral or slightly alkaline soil in full sun[2]. Plants grow best in a sandy soil in a warm, sheltered position[3].
A very ornamental plant[1], it is also a good butterfly plant[4].
Plants are usually biennial or short-lived perennials and are normally grown as annuals in the garden[5]. The wild plant is a perennial with an almost shrubby nature. Garden forms have been bred to have annual or biennial characteristics[3].
The flowers have a strong sweet scent[6].
Range: S. Europe. Possibly native to S. England.
Habitat: Sea cliffs and as an escape from cultivation, avoiding acid soils[4]. Rocky and sandy places by the sea[3].
Edibility: Flowers - eaten as a vegetable or used as a garnish, especially with sweet desserts[7]. Highly fragrant[7].
Seedpods[8][7]. Used as a famine food when all else fails[9].
Medicinal: The seeds are aphrodisiac, bitter, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic and tonic[10]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of cancer and when mixed with wine it has been used as an antidote to poisonous bites[10].
Usage: A dark blue or purple dye is obtained from the flowers[11].
Pollinators: Bees, lepidoptera, self
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Seed Ripens: Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Cheiranthus incanus.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2. Pan Books, London, 1998.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.