Matthiola longipetala

Night-scented Stock
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Brassicales
Family:	Brassicaceae
Genus:	Matthiola
Species:	M. longipetala
Binomial name
	Matthiola longipetala; (Vent.) DC.

"Night-scented Stock" redirects here. For the song by Kate Bush, see Never for Ever.

Matthiola longipetala, known as Night-scented Stock^[1] or Evening Stock (syns Cheiranthus longipetalus, Matthiola bicornis, Matthiola longipetala subsp. bicornis, and Matthiola oxyceras), is a species of ornamental plant.

Description

A member of the Matthiola genus native to Eurasia which emits a pleasant scent in the evening and through the night. It has four-petaled purple to white flowers, which are approximately 1 to 2 cm wide. The plant is low-growing and highly branched in form, normally growing to about 45 cm in length. During the heat of the day, the flowers appear wilted.

Cultivation

This species is primarily grown for the evening scent. It is cold-resistant and grown throughout North America (even doing well into hardiness zone 1). This hardy annual prefers cool conditions in full sun and may not do well at high temperatures. It is best to plant thickly in clumps if a bushy appearance is desired. In Canada, the tiny seeds are usually sown in the early spring after the last frost and may be started indoors in April. They will bloom throughout the early summer and well into the summer if watered regularly. They should not be overwatered. They may also be grown in balcony containers although they will not usually stand upright and must not be allowed to become too hot and dry.

In popular culture

British progressive pop artist recorded a 51-second song titled "Night Scented Stock" for her 1980 album, Never for Ever.

References

^ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

Bibliography

Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.

External links

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[BSBI07-1] "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

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