Contents:

• Quick Answer: Number of Stock Flower Varieties
• What is a Stock Flower, Anyway?
• Quick Stock Flower Facts
• Defining a “Variety”–What Counts?
• The Major Stock Flower Types You’ll See in the US
• Single vs. Double Stocks
• Color Series
• Regional and Heirloom Varieties
• How Are New Stock Varieties Bred?
• Stock Flower Varieties: By Numbers
• Numbers at a Glance (as of 2026)
• How Stocks Compare to Other Florist Flowers
• Why Florists and Gardeners Love (and Sometimes Loathe) Stocks
• The Upside
• The Downside
• Sourcing Rare or Specialty Stock Flowers in the US
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How many types of stock flowers are there?
• What are the most common stock flower colors?
• Can I grow rare stock flower varieties in my home garden?
• Are all stock flowers double-flowered?
• When is the best time to buy stock flowers in the US?

How Many Varieties of Stock Flowers Actually Exist?

Picture a spring wedding, the air buzzing with anticipation and softened by clouds of delicate, spicy-scented blooms–the ones in pastel pinks, dazzling whites, buttery creams, and even lavender-purple. Odds are, those ruffled blossoms belong to the unsung hero of many bouquets: the stock flower (Matthiola incana). Gardeners adore them for their fragrance; florists rely on them for their staying power and color range. But how many varieties of stock flowers actually exist? The answer’s more surprising than most people expect.

Quick Answer: Number of Stock Flower Varieties

There are between 60 and 120 recognized varieties of stock flowers worldwide, depending on criteria like form, color range, double or single bloom type, and regional cultivars. Botanically, about 50-60 named cultivars appear in the cut-flower trade in the US each year, with hundreds of regionally bred or heirloom types grown by enthusiasts and specialist growers.

“Stock flowers may come in just a few classic colors at big-box stores, but serious growers know there are over a hundred distinct cultivars, including some rare heirloom doubles you’ll only see at boutique florists,” says Dr. Molly Chan, horticulturist and co-owner of Seattle-based Urban Petal Farms.

What is a Stock Flower, Anyway?

Before diving into varieties, clarification helps. Stock, or Matthiola incana, is a cool-season annual (or sometimes short-lived perennial) native to Mediterranean Europe. Americans mostly encounter stocks in bouquets from FTD or Teleflora, or growing cool-season in backyard gardens from April through June. They are adored for their frilled petals, heady clove scent, and vase life that rivals almost any spring flower except snapdragons.

Quick Stock Flower Facts

• Scientific name: Matthiola incana
• Also called: Gillyflower, hoary stock
• Common colors: White, pink, purple, cream, magenta, yellow
• Vase life: 7-14 days
• US market price (2026): $2.75-$4.00 per stem retail

Defining a “Variety”–What Counts?

The sheer number of stock flower varieties hinges on what you consider a “variety.” Florists, seed companies, and botanists often count differently.

Stock flowers are divided mainly by color, flower form (single or double), stem length, and growth habit. Some seed catalogs like Johnny’s Selected Seeds or Baker Creek list 12-20 varieties each year–many unique.

The Major Stock Flower Types You’ll See in the US

Most US florists and home gardeners encounter these main groups:

1. Single vs. Double Stocks

• Single: Simple, four-petaled flower. Usually less showy, but more fertile for seed-saving.
• Double: Dense, ruffled blooms. The classic “stock look” in bouquets. These are typically sterile but prized for fullness.

Double-flowered stocks make up over 80% of US cut-flower sales (2025 data, National Cut Flower Growers Assoc.).

2. Color Series

Seed companies often group stocks into color series, each with 6-12 stable colors:

• Iron Series: Tall, robust stems, strong doubles, all major colors.
• Vintage Series: Known for early blooms and a pastel palette.
• Katz Series: Heat-tolerant, bred for Southern US climates.
• Column or Cinderella Series: Tall stems for cutting, vibrant whites and pinks.

“Florists order ‘Iron White’ or ‘Vintage Pink’ for consistency in large wedding arrangements,” adds Lisa Goldberg, lead designer at Brooklyn’s Bloom & Vine (est. 2009).

List: Most Popular US Stock Flower Cultivars (2026)

• Iron White
• Vintage Lavender
• Katz Apricot
• Cinderella Deep Rose
• Cheerful Yellow
• Japanese Tenweeks Mix

3. Regional and Heirloom Varieties

Boutique growers sometimes keep local favorites alive–think ‘Brompton’ stocks in California or antique ‘Gillyflower’ types in New England cottage gardens. These may not show up on bulk-flower order forms but remain vital to genetic diversity.

How Are New Stock Varieties Bred?

The world’s stock flower landscape is continuously evolving. Modern breeding (mainly out of Japan, the Netherlands, and increasingly California) focuses on:

• Color stability
• Petal count (more doubles!)
• Scent intensity
• Disease resistance
• Heat/cold tolerance

Most American seed is sourced from global breeders like Takii (Japan) or PanAmerican Seed. Hybrid (F1) varieties dominate commercial flower farms for their uniformity and stem length, but home gardeners still enjoy open-pollinated and heirloom types.

Stock Flower Varieties: By Numbers

Numbers at a Glance (as of 2026)

*Excludes localized garden club or amateur-bred forms, which may number several dozen more.

Pull-quote:

“From a florist’s perspective, you’ll find about 60 reliably available stock flower cultivars in the US market, but specialty growers might have another 40-60 heirlooms and experimental lines tucked away.”
– Dr. Molly Chan, Urban Petal Farms

How Stocks Compare to Other Florist Flowers

Stocks don’t match roses for sheer variety but outpace most spring annuals. Their reputation for “old-fashioned charm” often belies the sheer innovation happening in stock breeding.

Why Florists and Gardeners Love (and Sometimes Loathe) Stocks

The Upside

• Fragrance: Many compare stocks’ scent to cloves or spicy vanilla.
• Long vase life: Up to 14 days with proper care–longer than tulips or ranunculus.
• Color flexibility: Works with modern, pastel, or vintage palettes.
• Affordable: More stem for the dollar than specialty ranunculus or peonies.

The Downside

• Seasonality: Most US-grown stocks peak in spring. Summer stocks must be imported or greenhouse-grown.
• Double-Flowered Genetics: About one in four seedlings makes a perfect double–so prices reflect this “wastage” at the growing stage.
• Susceptibility: Prone to certain fungal diseases in humid climates.

Sourcing Rare or Specialty Stock Flowers in the US

If you crave a unique stock variety–say, a bronze-flowered double or the elusive ‘Iron Appleblossom’–your best bets in the US are:

• Specialty online florists (e.g., Grace Rose Farm, The Bouqs Co.)
• Farmer-florist markets and local CSAs
• Seed sellers (Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds)
• Direct from boutique growers via Instagram or event florists

Expect rare or experimental types to run $4-$7 per stem retail (2026 USD), especially for double-flowered, pastel, or “niche color” stocks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many types of stock flowers are there?

There are between 60 and 120 recognized stock flower varieties in the world. In the United States, about 55-65 named cultivars are widely available through commercial flower suppliers and seed catalogs.

What are the most common stock flower colors?

White, pink, lavender, purple, cream, and yellow are the most common stock flower colors sold by US florists. Some breeders offer peach, apricot, or bi-color shades.

Can I grow rare stock flower varieties in my home garden?

Yes, home gardeners can grow rare stock flower varieties by sourcing seeds from specialty companies or heirloom seed exchanges. Look for open-pollinated or “heirloom” labels to find unusual colors and forms.

Are all stock flowers double-flowered?

No, stocks come in both single and double forms. Double-flowered stocks are most popular in floral design due to their extra petals and fullness, but singles are essential for seed production.

When is the best time to buy stock flowers in the US?

Peak season for fresh US-grown stock flowers runs from March through June. Imported or greenhouse-grown stocks may be available year-round, but prices are higher outside the spring peak.

Stock flowers continue to surprise–new color breakthroughs, longer stems, improved heat tolerance, and rare doubles show up every season. Next time you order a bouquet or sow a packet of seeds, keep an eye out for a stock flower you’ve never seen before. Want to try something extraordinary? Visit your local farmers’ market this spring and ask for their rarest stock–they just might introduce you to a variety not even your florist friend has met yet.