Hi! I'm a little new to this. What are stocks? Where do they grow best? I want to say that I've heard of others talking about these. I'm trying to start some different plants up for my yard, so I'm trying to find different things to grow.

There are several types, all half hardy annuals, that go from pretty tiny to giant size at 18 inches or so. Some are scented at night, others are scented during the day. The colors run from pale yellow to pink mainly to dark rose.

So far I think I've sorted out species as
Evening-scented stocks Matthiola bicornis
Dwarf stocks Matthiola incana
Virginia stocks Matthiola maritima

They thrive in full sun to light shade and are a cool weather flower, doing well from early spring to high summer.

Most seed catalogs carry some varieties and the seeds are easy to germinate. I sometimes see market packs available in my local but specialty garden centers.

As I mentioned in the original post, I'm planning them for where I usally put pansies.

...and they smell soooooo good.

I love stocks, but in the past, they haven't donw well for me. It just got too hot before they were big enough to bloom. I tried wintersowing them too, although I got great germination and the seedlings grew well, it got too hot. So, I've started them indoors already. They are growing well, and I hope to get them outside and blooming with my sweet peas and pansies.