Night Scented Stock 'Lavender Pink' Seeds
If you judge a flower solely by its looks, you might walk past Night Scented Stock. By day, it looks a little scruffy, with wilted, pale lilac petals. But as the sun sets, a magical transformation occurs. The flowers unfurl, perk up, and release an intoxicating, heavy perfume of vanilla, spice, and clove that can fill an entire garden.
This is a plant grown purely for the nose, not the eyes. It is the essential ingredient for a sensory garden. Plant it beneath a window, next to a patio door, or around a garden bench—anywhere you sit in the evening to unwind. It creates an atmosphere of pure summer nostalgia.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Night Scented Stock is a Hardy Annual.
It completes its life cycle in one season. Because the plants are quite spindly and short-lived (flowering intensely for about 6-8 weeks), succession sowing is the secret to success.
Top Tip: Don't sow the whole packet at once! Sow a small patch every 3 weeks from March to June. This guarantees you have a fresh supply of scent right through until October.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
This plant has a spindly root system and hates being moved. Direct sowing is the only way.
Germination:
Sow directly outdoors from March to June. Scatter the seeds thinly into a shallow drill or patch of raked soil. Cover lightly (3mm deep). Germination is fast, usually 7-14 days.
Where to Sow:
They need full sun (to charge up the scent for the evening) and well-drained soil. Because they look "messy" during the day, it is best to sow them hidden behind other plants or mixed into a border where their daytime appearance is masked.
Care While Growing:
These are relaxed plants. They tend to sprawl rather than stand upright. You can support them with twiggy sticks, or simply grow them through other plants which will hold them up. Water during dry spells to keep the scent production high.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Matthiola longipetala |
| Common Name | Night Scented Stock |
| Hardiness | H3/H4 (Hardy Annual) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 30cm - 45cm |
| Spread | ↔️ 20cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 Scatter thickly |
| Great for | 👃 Incredible Fragrance 🌙 Night Gardens 🐝 Moths & Pollinators 🏺 Patio Edging |
| Seed Count | Approx. 200 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
Because Stock looks a bit scruffy during the day, pair it with plants that look good in sunlight but also enhance the evening experience:
- 🌙 Nicotiana 'White Trumpets': The ultimate scent duo. Plant these tall, architectural white flowers behind your low-growing Stock. Both release their perfume at dusk, creating a sensory experience that is unmatched.
- 🔵 Cornflower 'Blue Ball': The daytime distracter. Cornflowers love the same conditions and provide bright blue colour and structure during the day when the Stock flowers are closed and wilted.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow directly outdoors in succession for scent all summer.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Transplanting Warning
Night Scented Stock has a very weak, wispy root system. It hates being moved. Do not sow in seed trays; always sow directly into the ground or the container where it is to flower.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
This plant is a magnet for night-flying moths. It is listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, playing a vital role in supporting the evening ecosystem of your garden.
- Regular price
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£2.10 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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£2.10
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