Matthiola incana Katz Hi double White seeds - Hoary Stock

The Ten-week Stock 'Katz Hi Double White' (Matthiola incana) is remarkable for its large, double, immaculate white, intensely fragrant flowers, borne on long, upright and sturdy stems. Selected for cut flower production, it offers an elegant, uniform flowering. In the garden, this stock brightens up beds, borders and flowerbeds, while in pots, it enhances balconies and terraces. Sensitive to both extreme heat and marked frosts, sow in spring.

The 'Katz Hi Double White' stock belongs to the Brassicaceae family. Known by the names common stock, ten-week stock or white stock, the species is also named Cheiranthus incanus and Hesperis incana. Native to the coastal areas of southern and western Europe, particularly from Spain to Greece, Matthiola incana grows naturally on limestone cliffs, old walls and coastal dunes, and has become naturalised in various temperate regions of the globe. Although perennial or more often biennial in its native habitat, Matthiola incana is generally cultivated as an annual in horticulture, due to its sensitivity to frost.

The 'Katz Hi Double White' cultivar was developed by PanAmerican Seed as part of the 'Katz' series for the production of high-quality cut flowers. This series is distinguished by uniform flowering, increased heat tolerance and a high production of double flowers, with over 90% of stems producing usable double flowers. The plant has an erect habit, reaching 70-80 cm in height in open ground and developing robust stems suitable for cutting. In pots, the height may be slightly less, around 60 cm. The leaves are lanceolate, grey-green, slightly hairy, and measure from 5 to 15 cm long. The very fragrant flowering occurs mainly in May-June, or even July, depending on the sowing date. The 3 to 5 cm diameter, double flowers are pure white, arranged in terminal clusters. This variety of stock has rapid growth, reaching its mature size 8 to 13 weeks after transplanting.

The Ten-week Stock 'Katz Hi Double White' enhances spring beds and cottage gardens. This variety is perfect for creating romantic atmospheres. In open ground, it pairs well with early tulips in pastel shades like 'Angelique' or 'White Triumphator', or with forget-me-nots for a frothy and natural effect. In pots, pair it with pansies in lavender or cream hues, or heucheras with purple foliage like 'Midnight Rose' to highlight its brilliance. It also finds a place in a cutting garden where its flowering and fragrant stems can move from the flowerbed to the vase.