StoX® Antique Rose
Matthiola incana
Wikimedia Commons via Matthiola incana
Light, dusty-rosy color is similar to Vintage Brown, although a few shades lighter. Single-stem/column-type stock for one-cut harvest. Sturdy, upright stems are comparable to the Iron series. Double-flowering plant selection: Plants are selectable for double-flowering blooms. Without selection your plants will produce approximately 55% double-flowering plants and 45% single-flowering plants. Double-flowering plants will display a lighter leaf color at the seedling stage after a cold treatment. You might notice that some seedlings will present the lighter color leaves, even without a prescribed cold treatment. NOTE: This variety produces one flowering stem per plant. Pinching is not advisable as it will terminate flowering. Edible Flowers: The peppery, clove-like flavor of the flowers lends itself well to use as a garnish on salads, desserts, and drinks.
Harvest
90-105d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
6–10
USDA hardiness
Height
1-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for StoX® Antique Rose in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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StoX® Antique Rose · Zones 6–10
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | June – July | — |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | March – May | — |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | February – April | — |
| Zone 1 | May – June | July – August | July – September | — |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
Succession Planting
Stock isn't a cut-and-come-again crop — each stem blooms once and that's it. But you can stretch your overall bloom window by staggering sowings. Start seeds indoors in February, make a second round in March, then transplant the first batch out in April once nighttime temps hold reliably above 40°F. Follow with the second round in early May. A late-spring direct sowing through June can push blooms into early fall, but stock loses quality fast once daytime highs are consistently above 85°F — the goal is to time successions to either finish before the heat peaks or pick back up once it breaks in September.
Don't push past mid-June in warm climates. Seeds sown in July will spend their energy on heat survival rather than bud set, and you'll end up with leggy, sparse plants and noticeably poor fragrance.
Complete Growing Guide
Light, dusty-rosy color is similar to Vintage Brown, although a few shades lighter. Single-stem/column-type stock for one-cut harvest. Sturdy, upright stems are comparable to the Iron series. Double-flowering plant selection: Plants are selectable for double-flowering blooms. Without selection your plants will produce approximately 55% double-flowering plants and 45% single-flowering plants. Double-flowering plants will display a lighter leaf color at the seedling stage after a cold treatment. You might notice that some seedlings will present the lighter color leaves, even without a prescribed cold treatment. NOTE: This variety produces one flowering stem per plant. Pinching is not advisable as it will terminate flowering. Edible Flowers: The peppery, clove-like flavor of the flowers lends itself well to use as a garnish on salads, desserts, and drinks. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, StoX® Antique Rose is 90 - 105 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Edible Flowers, Fragrant.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches, 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains.
Harvesting
StoX® Antique Rose reaches harvest at 90 - 105 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.
Seeds will ripen in August and September.
Harvest time: Fall
Storage & Preservation
Fresh cut flowers should be stored in a vase with clean water at room temperature (65-72°F) away from direct sunlight, ethylene-producing fruits, and heat sources. Change water every 2-3 days and re-cut stems at a 45-degree angle. Vase life is typically 7-10 days. For preservation: (1) Air-dry by hanging stems upside-down in a dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks to create dried arrangements. (2) Press individual blooms between parchment paper under heavy weight for 2-4 weeks for botanical crafts. (3) Freeze petals in ice cubes with water for long-term storage, ideal for garnishing drinks and desserts.
History & Origin
StoX® Antique Rose is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: The Coast of Europe from Spain to Greece.
Advantages
- +Distinctive dusty-rosy color stands out among vintage-style cut flowers
- +Single-stem harvest design simplifies commercial production and post-harvest handling
- +Sturdy, upright stems rival premium Iron series varieties in quality
- +Flowers offer culinary appeal with peppery, clove-like flavor for garnishing
- +Relatively quick 90-105 day turnaround for floristry market timing
Considerations
- -Unpredictable double-flower ratio requires tedious plant selection during production
- -No pinching capability limits stem multiplication and reduces usable cuts per plant
- -Approximately 45% of unselected plants produce unmarketable single flowers only
Companion Plants
The most useful companions for StoX® Antique Rose stock are plants that pull pest pressure away without crowding the root zone. Marigolds (Tagetes patula specifically) suppress soil nematodes and their scent disrupts aphid orientation — aphids can colonize stressed stock, so having that deterrent nearby is worth the bed space. Garlic and alliums work through a similar mechanism: sulfur compounds in their tissue repel soft-bodied insects, and because they stay compact and root shallow, they don't compete meaningfully with stock for water or nutrients. Lavender and catmint bring in lacewings and hoverflies, both of which feed on aphid colonies, and neither plant is aggressive enough to shade out a 1–3 foot stock plant.
Rosemary and geraniums are decent structural companions — drought-tolerant enough that they won't draw down soil moisture while stock is establishing in spring. The pest-repellent claims around both are softer than the marigold or allium evidence, but they're not competing hard for the same resources either, so there's no real downside.
Black walnut is a hard no. Juglans nigra produces juglone, a compound documented to damage or kill plants in the Brassicaceae family — which includes Matthiola — and the effect radius can extend well past the tree's visible drip line. Large trees generally are a problem for a different reason: stock needs at minimum 4–6 hours of direct sun, and canopy shade past that threshold produces weak, flopping stems that barely bloom.
Plant Together
Lavender
Repels aphids, moths, and other pests while attracting beneficial pollinators
Marigolds
Deters nematodes and aphids, reduces soil-borne diseases
Garlic
Repels aphids, spider mites, and Japanese beetles through sulfur compounds
Catmint
Repels ants, aphids, and rodents while attracting beneficial insects
Alliums
Deter thrips, aphids, and other rose pests with their strong scent
Clematis
Provides complementary blooms and shares similar soil preferences
Rosemary
Repels carrot flies, cabbage moths, and other pests harmful to roses
Geraniums
Repel Japanese beetles and other rose pests while adding color contrast
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits rose growth and can cause wilting
Large Trees
Compete for nutrients and water, create excessive shade that reduces flowering
Impatiens
Attract spider mites and thrips that can spread to roses
Troubleshooting StoX® Antique Rose
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedlings or young transplants collapsing at the soil line — stems look pinched and dark at the base
Likely Causes
- Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — fungal pathogens that thrive in cold, wet, poorly drained soil
- Overwatering or trays without bottom drainage
What to Do
- 1.Pull and discard affected plants; don't try to nurse them back
- 2.Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings for remaining seedlings
- 3.Next sowing, use a sterile seed-starting mix and add a thin layer of coarse sand or perlite to the soil surface to keep the crown dry
Lower leaves developing a gray, powdery coating; plant looks dusty starting mid-season
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cruciferarum) — common in Brassica-family plants like stock, especially when nights cool and airflow is poor
- Crowded spacing that traps humidity around the foliage
What to Do
- 1.Remove the worst-affected leaves and give plants more room — aim for at least 12 inches between them
- 2.Apply a diluted neem oil spray (2 tsp per quart of water) every 7 days once you see the first signs
- 3.Water at the base only; wet foliage going into evening is asking for trouble
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do StoX Antique Rose flowers last after cutting?▼
Is StoX Antique Rose easy to grow for beginners?▼
Can you grow StoX Antique Rose in containers?▼
What does StoX Antique Rose taste like and how is it used?▼
When should I plant StoX Antique Rose seeds?▼
Will my plants produce double or single flowers?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.