Pink stock

Filler · Brassicaceae

Stock

Matthiola incana

Also known as Gillyflower and Hoary stock

Dense, clove-scented spikes traditionally associated with lasting beauty and contentment.

Colour: Pink

Often given for contentment and a happy life.

Use in a bouquet All flowers
Peak season
Mar–May
Vase life
5–7 days
Birth month
—
Colours
5

What the stock means

Stock was a cottage garden favorite for centuries, prized above all for its spicy clove scent, and it was once widely known as gillyflower, a name it shared with carnations. In the Victorian language of flowers it was said to mean lasting beauty, and in modern use it is often given for a happy life and contentment. It is a member of the mustard family, a cousin of cabbage and wallflower, and a traditional choice for weddings and spring arrangements. The name Matthiola honors Pietro Andrea Mattioli, a 16th-century Italian physician and botanist.

Flower meanings come mostly from Victorian floriography, and they vary between books, eras, and cultures.

Often sent for

  • Mother's Day
  • Anniversary
  • Birthday
  • Just because

By colour

  • Pink Often given for contentment and a happy life.
  • White Traditionally, lasting beauty; a wedding favorite.
  • Lavender Associated with grace and gentle admiration.
  • Purple Sometimes read as devotion.
  • Apricot Often given for warmth and good wishes.

Keeping it fresh

Late winter through spring; greenhouse stems are available much of the year.

  1. 1 Change the water daily; stock stems break down quickly and can make the water smell.
  2. 2 Strip all leaves below the waterline and recut stems regularly.
  3. 3 Pinch off faded lower florets as the spike opens upward.

Pet safety

  • cats Not listed
  • dogs Not listed
  • horses Not listed

Not listed in the ASPCA plant database. If a pet eats any, call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.

“Not listed” means the ASPCA has no entry for this plant — not that it is safe. Keep it out of reach.

Source: ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plants. If a pet eats any plant, call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.

Did you know

Night-scented stock, a close relative in the same genus, saves its strongest fragrance for the evening.

Pairs well with

Make your own stock bouquet

Pick a vase, add a card, and share the link — no delivery van, no wilting.

Open Flower Studio