Guide to growing garden plants - Malcolmia (Virginia Stock)
Malcolmia genus members are small half hardy or hardy annuals that reach from 20 to 30cm in height.
They have dainty four petaled flowers of purple or pink.
They look nice growing in garden borders.
A common name of Malcolmia is Virginia Stock.
Malcolmia by Ripplestone garden; creative commons.
Quick Malcolmia Growing Guide and Facts
Common Names: Virginia Stock, African Mustard.
Life Cycle: Half hardy annual, hardy annual.
Height: 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm).
Native: Europe, Africa.
Growing Region: Zones 3 to 8.
Flowers: Spring, summer and autumn.
Flower Details: Purple, lavender, pink. Four petals. Fragrant.
Foliage: Furry stems. Grows in clumps. Long siliques.
Sow Outside: Surface. Sow once per month from just before the last frost until the end of summer; and at the end of autumn in milder areas. Spacing four inches (10 cm).
Sow Inside: No.
Requirements: Full sunlight or partial shade. Moist soil. Regular watering.
How to grow Virginia Stock
It is best to grow Virginia Stock outdoors and to sow the seeds once a month (from early spring to autumn) for continuous flowering from spring until autumn 9autumn sown Malcolmia will flower the following spring. The seeds should be sown on the surface and take about two weeks to germinate. Virginia Stock is able to grow in both sunny and partially shaded gardens, and though the soil type is not important, it is beneficial to add manure when sowing seeds.
Caring for Virginia stock and other Malcolmia plants
It is easy to look after Virginia stock, once growing they require regular watering and dead plants removed following flowering. With the last crop of Virginia stock plants allow to set and drop seed to have a bloom of Malcolmia the following spring.