Quartet White Stock is a classic spring and summer bloomer that brings elegant, fragrant spikes of pure white flowers to gardens in zones 6 through 10. This cultivar of Matthiola incana reaches 18 to 24 inches tall and produces flowers within 70 to 84 days from seed, making it quick enough for succession planting throughout the cool season. The compact, upright form takes up just 6 to 12 inches of width, so it slots easily into borders, cutting gardens, or containers where its sweet-scented blooms can be enjoyed fresh.
Full Sun
Moderate
6-10
24in H x 12in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Pure white flower spikes emerge from March through August in most climates, with particular vigor during spring and early summer when temperatures favor cool-season bloomers. Deer leave it untouched while pollinators actively visit the flowers, creating a garden that's both safe from browsing and alive with beneficial insects. The plants are frost-tolerant enough to persist through cold snaps, and they thrive in full sun with moderate water and neutral to slightly alkaline soil, asking only for good air circulation and well-draining conditions to perform reliably.
Quartet White Stock is a cut flower variety prized for its long stems and persistent blooms. The fragrant white spikes add elegance to fresh arrangements and last well in the vase, making them a favorite for spring bouquets and wedding florals. Gardeners also grow them directly in borders where the upright growth habit creates vertical interest without requiring staking.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost in pots kept at 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover seeds lightly with vermiculite and keep the soil surface moist until sprouting occurs in 5 to 10 days. Once germinated, move seedlings to a cool location between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit to grow sturdy transplants, then harden them off and plant out in early spring.
Transplant seedlings outdoors in early spring when soil is workable and nighttime temperatures are consistently around 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 8 inches apart to ensure adequate air circulation. In zones 9 and 10, treat Quartet White Stock as a cool-season annual and transplant in mid-fall for winter and early spring bloom.
Direct sow 2 to 3 weeks before your last spring frost in areas with cool summer weather, or in a coldframe for earlier germination. In zones 9 and 10, direct sow in early fall for a winter and spring display.
Harvest flower spikes when the lower flowers on the stem are fully open and the upper buds are beginning to show color. Cut stems early in the morning with a sharp knife, removing stems at their base to encourage the plant to produce more side shoots. Stocks hold their fragrance and form well in the vase for an extended period.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.