StoX® White
Matthiola incana
Photo: Svencapoeira · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sturdy, upright stems are comparable in quality to the Iron series. The StoX series was bred for easier selection of double-flowering plants. Double-flowering plants will display a lighter leaf color at the seedling stage after exposure to cool temperatures. Without selection your plants will produce approximately 55% double-flowering plants and 45% single-flowering plants. You might notice that some seedlings will present the lighter color leaves, even without a cold treatment. Single-stem/column-type stock for one-cut harvest. NOTE: This variety produces one flowering stem per plant. Pinching is not advisable as it will terminate flowering. Blooms are pure white in color. 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® White in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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StoX® White · Zones 6–10
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
Succession Planting
Stock is a cool-to-warm season annual that does its best work in mild temperatures — once daytime highs push consistently above 80°F, bloom quality drops and plants tend to stall out rather than finish gracefully. In zone 7, start seeds indoors in February or March and transplant out in April to May for a late spring cut. For fall bloom, sow another round indoors in late June to early July and transplant in August, timing it so plants are putting on size as temperatures fall back below 80°F.
Don't try to bridge those two windows with a midsummer sowing. Stock started for a July transplant in zones 7–8 will push weak, short stems through the heat and give you little worth cutting. Spring and fall are the two slots — work them and skip everything in between.
Complete Growing Guide
Sturdy, upright stems are comparable in quality to the Iron series. The StoX series was bred for easier selection of double-flowering plants. Double-flowering plants will display a lighter leaf color at the seedling stage after exposure to cool temperatures. Without selection your plants will produce approximately 55% double-flowering plants and 45% single-flowering plants. You might notice that some seedlings will present the lighter color leaves, even without a cold treatment. Single-stem/column-type stock for one-cut harvest. NOTE: This variety produces one flowering stem per plant. Pinching is not advisable as it will terminate flowering. Blooms are pure white in color. 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® White is 90 - 105 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, 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® White 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
For fresh storage, keep cut stems in a vase with cool water (65-72°F) in a cool location away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit, which extends vase life to 7-10 days. Change water every 2-3 days and recut stems at an angle. For preservation, air-dry stems by hanging them upside-down in bundles in a warm, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks for dried arrangements. Alternatively, press individual flowers between parchment paper under weight for 1-2 weeks to preserve for crafts or decoration. Freezing flowers in ice cubes with water is another method for culinary garnish use, maintaining appearance for 2-3 months.
History & Origin
StoX® White 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
- +Sturdy upright stems match quality of premium Iron series varieties
- +Double-flowering plants identifiable by lighter seedling leaves for easy selection
- +Pure white blooms suitable for floral arrangements and edible garnish applications
- +Single-stem design enables efficient one-cut harvest without labor-intensive pinching
- +Ready to bloom in just 90-105 days with easy cultivation
Considerations
- -Only 55% double-flowering plants without selection leaves 45% singles unwanted
- -Pinching terminates flowering making plant reshaping or recovery impossible
- -Single stem per plant limits yield compared to branching varieties
Companion Plants
Petunias, zinnias, and marigolds are reliable neighbors for stock — they pull in similar pollinators without crowding the root zone, and marigolds have a documented history of suppressing aphid pressure, which matters here because aphids are the main vector for Turnip mosaic virus in Matthiola. Sweet alyssum planted as a low border draws parasitic wasps (Aphidius species) that knock down aphid populations before they become a virus problem, all without shading out stock that needs 4–6 hours of direct sun to set good stems.
Black walnut, eucalyptus, and fennel are the three to plant nowhere near your stock. Black walnut produces juglone — a root-zone toxin that can stunt or kill a broad range of annuals. Eucalyptus puts allelopathic oils into the soil that suppress neighboring plant uptake. Fennel doesn't have a dramatic mechanism, but it consistently stunts most annuals planted within a foot or two of it; keep it on the far side of the garden entirely.
Plant Together
Petunias
Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs through natural compounds
Cosmos
Attract beneficial pollinators and predatory insects while providing vertical structure
Zinnia
Attract butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects while creating colorful garden displays
Marigolds
Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting nearby plants
Sweet Alyssum
Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps for pest control
Lavender
Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting bees and beneficial pollinators
Catnip
Repels ants, aphids, and mosquitoes more effectively than DEET
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill many flowering plants
Eucalyptus
Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress germination and growth of nearby plants
Fennel
Produces allelopathic chemicals that inhibit growth of most garden plants
Troubleshooting StoX® White
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Gray, fuzzy mold coating flower buds or stems, especially after a stretch of cool, wet weather
Likely Causes
- Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) — thrives at 60–77°F with high humidity and poor airflow
- Overcrowded planting or debris left at the base of stems
What to Do
- 1.Remove and bag any infected buds or stems immediately — don't compost them
- 2.Thin plants so air can move between them; stock wants at least 9–12 inches between plants
- 3.Water at the base, not overhead, and do it in the morning so foliage dries before nightfall
Leaves streaked yellow or mottled, with stunted growth and distorted new shoots
Likely Causes
- Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) — common in Matthiola, transmitted by aphids feeding on the plant
- Aphid colonies on undersides of leaves going unnoticed until virus symptoms appear
What to Do
- 1.Check undersides of leaves weekly; knock aphids off with a firm water spray or apply insecticidal soap
- 2.Pull and dispose of any plant showing confirmed mosaic symptoms — there's no cure once infected
- 3.Control weeds around the bed, since many host both aphids and TuMV
Stem collapses at soil level, plant wilts and falls over even with adequate moisture
Likely Causes
- Damping off from Pythium or Rhizoctonia solani — soil-borne pathogens that attack at or just below the soil line
- Waterlogged or poorly draining soil, especially in seedlings started indoors
What to Do
- 1.Start seeds in a sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix — not garden soil
- 2.Let the top inch of soil dry between waterings once seedlings are up
- 3.If starting indoors, run a small fan for 30–60 minutes a day to improve airflow and reduce surface moisture
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do StoX® White flowers last in a vase?▼
What do StoX® White flowers taste like?▼
Can StoX® White stock be grown in containers?▼
Is StoX® White stock easy for beginners to grow?▼
When should I start StoX® White seeds indoors?▼
How do I select double-flowering plants from StoX® White?▼
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.