Malcolmia maritima (L.) W.T.Aiton
Virginia Stock
Virginia stock is a small, quick-growing annual of the cabbage family, native to Greece, Albania and the eastern Mediterranean, where it grows in sandy coastal places and waste ground. Despite the name it has no connection with Virginia.
About
Virginia stock is a small, quick-growing annual of the cabbage family, native to Greece, Albania and the eastern Mediterranean, where it grows in sandy coastal places and waste ground. Despite the name it has no connection with Virginia. It makes slender, low plants carrying masses of dainty, four-petalled, lightly fragrant flowers in shades of pink, lilac, mauve and white.
One of the easiest of all hardy annuals, it can be sown directly where it is to flower and will come into bloom remarkably quickly, often within a few weeks, then continue over a long period if sown in succession. It prefers an open, sunny spot on light, free-draining soil. The simple open flowers are readily worked by bees and other small pollinators, and the plant is ideal for filling gaps, edging paths, scattering in gravel and including in easy annual and child-friendly seed mixes. It is a garden annual rather than a native.
Also known as
Virginia-stock
Synonyms
Cheiranthus littoreus · Cheiranthus maritimus · Crucifera malcolmia · Hesperis maritima · Malcolmia flexuosa cephallenica · Malcolmia maritima alba · Malcolmia maritima leucadiana · Malcolmia maritima maritima · Malcolmia maritima ramosa · Wilckia maritima
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.