Baby High Double Cream Stock is a frost-hardy heirloom flower that blooms in 80 to 90 days with fully double petals the color of freshly churned butter and a sweet clove scent. These compact, multi-branching plants produce sturdy stems laden with edible blooms that shine in both garden beds and cut flower arrangements. Grown in full sun with moderate temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, this classic Matthiola incana cultivar rewards gardeners with uniform, prolific flowering.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
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Moderate
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Butter-yellow petals so densely doubled they resemble pom-poms, each flower releasing a honeyed clove fragrance that fills the air around the plant. The strong stems support abundant blooms across multiple branches, and the flowers themselves are edible, adding an unexpected culinary and ornamental dimension. Its uniform growth habit and reliable 80 to 90-day timeline from seed make it dependable for both succession planting and cutting gardens.
These double cream stocks serve as stunning cut flowers for arrangements, bringing both color and fragrance indoors. The edible petals can garnish dishes and salads, lending both visual appeal and a subtle floral-spice flavor. In the garden, they create dense focal points of color and scent when planted in groups.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch in seed-starting mix and keep the soil temperature at 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds typically sprout within 7 to 14 days. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge and maintain good air circulation to prevent damping off.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening off for 7 to 10 days and once soil temperatures consistently reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Since these plants are frost-hardy, they can tolerate cool springs and even light frosts. Space plants 12 inches apart. Transplanting in early spring gives them the cool conditions they prefer for robust flowering.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in early spring as soon as soil can be worked. Scatter seeds and press lightly into the soil, covering with a thin 1/4 inch layer of soil. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination, which occurs in 7 to 14 days.
For cut flowers, harvest in the early morning when stems are fully hydrated. Cut stems when most flowers on the cluster have opened but while some buds remain, extending the vase life. For edible petals, harvest individual flowers or florets once they are fully open and at peak color. The petals can be used fresh in salads and as garnishes immediately after harvest.
Pinching back the central stem when plants reach 4 to 6 inches tall encourages branching and fuller plants with more blooms. Remove spent flower clusters to extend the blooming period and redirect energy into new flower production.
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