Bright purple stock flowers in a dark bowl and scattered on a light blue surface.

Japanese Stock Flowers: Exquisite Beauty, Intoxicating Fragrance!

Updated on Dec 22, 2023
By Michelle Johnson

Introduction

Romantics and gardeners alike have been fans of Japanese stock flowers since the 17th century when they spread to Japan from Europe and grew its popularity there because of their beautiful looks and fragrance. Come along as we explore the fascinating history of this flower, its uses, and learn some fun facts!

Origin and Use of Japanese Stock Flowers

Stock is native to the Mediterranean and spread to Japan in the 17th century. Because of its beautiful fragrance, stocks are popular cutting flowers. They look great in ornamental, cottage, and seaside gardens, and even grow well in the cracks of rock walls. Read more about how to grow and use stocks here.

Small dark-haired child smiling behind bright pink stock flowers in a greenhouse

Cyan Gettle holds a bouquet of Beauty Salmon Pink stock flowers in a Baker Creek greenhouse.

Fun Facts About Japanese Stock Flowers

  • Stock develops a woody base in areas where it grows as a biennial or short-lived perennial, hence the name. 
  • You could think of stock flowers – Matthiola incana – as cabbage’s glamorous cousin. That’s not meant to knock cabbage, of course, but we’ve never heard it said that cabbage could induce swooning.  

    Stock had that reputation in 18th century England. Botanist Pietro Mattioli, for whom the intensely fragrant flower is named, thought it might even have medicinal properties (as a love potion).  
  • Stock is native to the Mediterranean coast and still grows wild along seaside cliffs and stone walls. Its intoxicating clove-like scent earned it the nickname “gillyflower,” invoking the French vernacular word for cloves.  

Stock flowers growing wild on Mediterranean coast (stock image).

Stock is native to the Mediterranean and still grows wild on cliffs and stone walls. 

  • Englishman John Gerard and other herbalists obsessed over stock flowers in the 1500s, so smitten were they by the flowers’ incredible fragrance and beauty.
  • As a flower, stock has it all. It’s no wonder that horticulturists of the Renaissance and Baroque eras devoted themselves to developing double blooming stock varieties, in various colors.  
  • Thomas Jefferson introduced stock to America in 1771, when he had the seeds imported to plant in his gardens at Monticello.  
  • Perhaps, nowhere more than Japan has Matthiola incana found a fervent and enduring fanbase. The flowers’ sturdy stalks, exquisite flowers, and branching habit make it a staple of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging.  
  • Stock flowers made their way to Japan during the Edo period, in the early 17th century. At the time, Dejima Island, in the southern port of Nagasaki, was the only place in Japan open to sea trade, and only with the Portuguese and later the Dutch.  

Old Japanese style buildings with benches and carefully pruned trees on a plaza, and modern buildings visible in the background on Dejima Island, Japan.

Matthiola incana was introduced to Japan in the 17th century via Dejima Island. 

  • Market production of stock for cut flowers began in the early 20th century, spreading from Chiba Prefecture, southeast of Tokyo, to other coastal areas with similar mild weather. Given its ideal climate, Chiba has long been a center of stock production and breeding. Murakami Seed Company, from which we source several stunning stock varieties like Vintage Brown and Murasaki No Uta, developed at their research center in Chiba.  
  • Stock is a biennial in USDA zones 7 to 10, and can be a short-lived perennial, but in many places, including Japan, it’s grown as an annual.   
  • In mild climates, you can plant stock flowers in the fall for spring blooms. Otherwise, you can plant them in spring. They’re easy to grow directly from seed, or you can start them indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date.  
  • It is a good idea to grow stock in containers, because rabbits and deer consider them gourmet treats! Spraying them with something stinky masks their spicy fragrance. Our friend William Woys Weaver suggests growing stock as you would chrysanthemums.  

Main Takeaways

This beautiful and intensely fragrant flower can be grown as a biennial or an annual, and it’s advised to grow it in containers because deer and rabbits love it equally as much as gardeners. Stock spread to Japan from Europe in the 17th century where it has grown widely popular. It’s named after botanist Pietro Mattioli, who even believed that the flower could make a powerful love potion.

Visit our Growing Guides to learn more about growing stock flowers! 

Vintage Brown Stock provides color to cooked rice and a splash of pink spicy pink to a salad

Stock flowers add a delicate pink hue to cooked rice and a splash of vivid pink to a salad. The delicious blooms are often used as garnishes or added to recipes for a bit of spicy flavor.   

 

 

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