Matthiola incana Katz Crimson | Stock

Matthiola incana Katz Crimson is a professional cut flower stock with rich crimson-red blooms, long strong stems and the characteristic sweet fragrance of stock. The deep, saturated colour gives this variety a dramatic presence in bouquets and makes it especially valuable for autumn arrangements, rich jewel-toned palettes and sophisticated floral work.

Katz Crimson belongs to the early-flowering, single-stem Katz series developed for cut flower production. Each plant produces one main flowering stem, reaching approximately 60–80 cm, with a tall column of closely arranged flowers.

Like other varieties in the Katz series, approximately 55–60% of plants produce double flowers naturally without seedling selection. Good uniformity in flowering time and stem length makes Katz Crimson particularly suitable for planned cut flower production.

Plant Information

• Botanical name: Matthiola incana
• Common name: Stock
• Variety: Katz Crimson
• Series: Katz
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Life cycle: Annual
• Hybrid: No – open pollinated
• Flower colour: Rich crimson red
• Flower type: Double and single
• Double-flowering: Approx. 55–60% without selection
• Growth habit: Upright, single stem
• Stem length: Approx. 60–80 cm
• Days to maturity: Approx. 90–100 days
• Best season: Spring and autumn
• Light: Full sun
• Use: Cut flowers, bouquets and floral design
• Vase life: Approx. 5–10 days
• Seed supplied as: Raw seed

Rich Crimson Colour

Katz Crimson stands out for its deep, saturated crimson-red flowers.

The colour is richer and more dramatic than a standard bright red, giving the flowers a sophisticated appearance that works beautifully in both contemporary and romantic floral designs.

Crimson is particularly striking when combined with blush, antique pink, burgundy, cream, apricot and deep purple flowers. It is also an excellent colour for late-summer and autumn bouquets when richer tones become especially desirable.

Combined with the tall flower spikes and characteristic fragrance of Matthiola incana, the intense colour gives Katz Crimson a strong visual presence in arrangements.

Professional Stock for Cut Flowers

Katz Crimson is bred for single-stem cut flower production and is valued for its good uniformity in flowering time and stem length.

Plants develop long, upright flowering stems with densely arranged blooms. Under suitable conditions, stems can reach approximately 60–80 cm, providing useful length for bouquets and professional floral work.

Stock is naturally fragrant, so Katz Crimson adds both colour and fragrance to arrangements.

It performs particularly well as a cool-season crop and is well suited to spring and autumn production, as well as protected cultivation in high tunnels.

One Plant – One Flowering Stem

Katz Crimson is a one-cut, single-stem stock. Each plant is grown to produce one main flowering stem.

Do not pinch the plants.

Unlike branching cut flowers such as zinnias, pinching stock does not encourage the production of several harvestable stems. Removing the growing point can terminate flowering.

For a longer harvest window, make successive sowings approximately every two weeks rather than pinching the plants.

55–60% Double Flowers

Approximately 55–60% of Katz plants naturally produce double flowers without selection, while the remaining plants produce single flowers.

For growers who want a higher percentage of double flowers, seedling selection is possible.

At the cotyledon stage, expose seedlings to temperatures of approximately 4–7°C for 3–4 days. After chilling, differences between seedlings become easier to identify.

Lighter green seedlings with more oval cotyledons are more likely to produce double flowers. Very small, darker green seedlings with rounder cotyledons are more likely to produce single flowers.

Selection is optional, and both flower forms can be grown.

Sowing Katz Crimson Stock Seeds

Transplanting – Recommended

For cut flower production, starting plants in plug trays is recommended.

Sow approximately 5–6 weeks before the planned transplanting date.

Sow about 6 mm deep into a fine, well-drained seed-starting substrate. Professional growers can use 128-cell plug trays.

Maintain approximately 18–24°C for germination.

Seeds normally germinate within 7–14 days.

Plug crop time is approximately 4 weeks. Depending on temperature, season and growing conditions, allow approximately 8–13 weeks from transplanting to flowering.

Overall maturity is approximately 90–100 days from sowing.

Direct Sowing

Seeds may also be sown directly outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. However, transplant production generally provides better control and uniformity for cut flower crops.

Stock prefers cool growing conditions, making spring and autumn successions particularly suitable.

For an extended harvest, sow a new succession approximately every two weeks.

Growing Conditions

Grow Katz Crimson in full sun in moderately fertile, well-drained soil.

Keep the soil consistently moist during active growth, but avoid waterlogged conditions.

Because Matthiola incana belongs to the Brassicaceae family, young plants can be susceptible to flea beetles. Where flea beetles are a problem, row cover can be used to protect young plants after transplanting.

Support for Long Stems

For professional cut flower production, a horizontal support net can help keep the long stems straight.

Support is particularly useful in windy locations, during periods of frequent rainfall or under warmer growing conditions.

Straight, well-supported stems provide the best quality for bouquets and floral design.

Harvesting Katz Crimson

Harvest when approximately ⅓–½ of the florets on the flowering stem are open.

At this stage, the stem already provides strong colour and visual impact while the remaining buds can continue opening in the vase.

Expected vase life is approximately 5–10 days under suitable conditions.

For short-term cold storage, maintain approximately 2–5°C.

Why Grow Katz Crimson?

Professional cut flower variety • Rich crimson-red colour • Strongly fragrant flowers • Long 60–80 cm stems • 55–60% double flowers without selection • Good uniformity • Early one-cut series • Excellent for spring and autumn production • Dramatic colour for bouquets • Suitable for professional floristry

Katz Crimson (Matthiola incana) is an excellent choice for growers looking for stock seeds for cut flower production with long stems, fragrant blooms and a rich crimson colour. Its combination of intense colour, fragrance and professional cut flower characteristics makes it especially useful for sophisticated seasonal bouquets.