Ask Ella: The Merits of Stock Flower
Ask Ella is a recurring Garden Collage feature where we ask our in-house florist, Ella Stavonsky, about floral design– including the history of, origin, and maintenance that goes into some of the most intriguing flowers on the market today. This column is dedicated exclusively to common and rare varieties of flowers you’re likely to find at your local market. This week, we spotlight Stock Flower, an aptly-named summery blossom that you can always count on for volume and color.
True to its name, stock flower seems to go well with just about every arrangement– it’s also one of the Garden Collage team’s favorite filler flowers. Sometimes known as “night-scented stock,” stock flowers have a strong, sweet smell and will perfume the area as you work with them. Though they resemble snapdragons with their column of tightly-bunched blossoms and tall stem, they are smaller and far more sturdy than the latter– a reliable flower for budding florists and professionals alike.
The no-frills flower is simple to care for: just place in warm water and recut the stems every other day. In fact, the most overwhelming part of the stock flower is the variety of colors it can come in– dark purple, hot pink, blush, lavender, peach, and white, just to name a few. But even this is ultimately an asset, as it makes stock flowers a go-to when playing with monochrome in a bouquet.
From lavish, once-in-a-lifetime occasions to every day use, stock flower fits the bill. For a sophisticated wedding centerpiece, mix white stock flower with white roses or hydrangea to create an elegant, visually dazzling arrangement. For a fragrant accent to a casual outdoor dinner, mix a trio with sprigs of rosemary and lavender from your own yard. In short, toss stock flower in just about anywhere and let it do the rest.
