Evening Scented Stock (Matthiola longipetala)

Evening Scented Stock (Matthiola longipetala) is a charming heirloom annual treasured for its incredible fragrance rather than its modest flowers. As the sun begins to set, its delicate lavender to pale purple blooms release an intensely sweet, spicy-clove perfume that fills patios, walkways, balconies, and evening gardens. This easy-to-grow annual is perfect for gardeners who want to enjoy outdoor spaces after sunset, attracting both people and evening pollinators with its unforgettable scent.

The airy plants produce slender stems lined with small four-petaled flowers that bloom continuously from late spring through summer. While the flowers remain partially closed during the heat of the day, they open more fully in the evening when temperatures cool, releasing their strongest fragrance. Their relaxed, natural habit makes them an excellent addition to cottage gardens, wildflower plantings, moon gardens, and mixed annual borders.

Evening Scented Stock performs beautifully in patio containers, window boxes, hanging baskets, borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, and moon gardens where its evening fragrance can be fully appreciated. It pairs exceptionally well with sweet alyssum, nicotiana, snapdragons, dianthus, lavender, petunias, and ornamental grasses, creating beautiful, fragrant displays that can be enjoyed well into the evening.