Matthiola incana Milla Salmon | Stock A sophisticated smoky salmon-apricot stock with strong stems, richly filled flower spikes and the classic sweet fragrance loved by florists. Matthiola incana 'Milla Salmon' is a premium professional cut flower variety featuring an exceptional soft salmon-apricot colour with subtle smoky undertones. Its unusual warm, muted colouring makes it particularly valuable for modern floral design, wedding work and romantic garden-style bouquets. Part of the professional Milla series, this variety has been developed for excellent stem length, strong growth, uniform production and outstanding flower quality. Milla Salmon produces elegant, densely flowered spikes on sturdy upright stems, accompanied by the characteristic sweet, spicy fragrance that makes stock one of the most beloved spring cut flowers. Milla is particularly useful for extending the stock season. It flowers later than earlier varieties such as Katz when planted at the same time, helping growers achieve a longer and more continuous harvest window. Each plant produces one main flowering stem and is therefore grown as a single-stem cut flower crop. Why You'll Love Milla Salmon Unique smoky salmon-apricot colour Premium professional cut flower variety Beautifully filled flower spikes Strong, sturdy stems Excellent stem length Highly uniform crop Outstanding flower quality Sweet, characteristic stock fragrance Excellent for wedding and event floristry Beautiful for romantic and vintage colour palettes Later flowering than some early stock varieties Excellent for extending the stock harvest season Suitable for greenhouse and tunnel production Can be selected for double-flowering plants after appropriate cold treatment Plant Information Botanical name: Matthiola incana Variety: Milla Salmon Common name: Stock Flower colour: Smoky salmon / soft apricot Flower type: Double and single Life cycle: Annual First-year flowering: Yes Plant height: Approximately 50–70 cm Professional stem length: Approximately 65–70 cm Growth habit: Upright, single stem Stems per plant: 1 Plant density: Approximately 64–80 plants/m² Cultivation: Greenhouse, tunnel or protected cultivation Sowing period: Autumn/early winter through late spring, depending on growing conditions Young plant production: Approximately 3–5 weeks Young plant to flowering: Approximately 9–16 weeks Use: Professional cut flower, bouquets and floral design Important: Milla Salmon is a single-stem/column-type stock. Do not pinch the plants, as pinching removes the main growing point and can prevent flowering. Flower Colour Milla Salmon is particularly desirable for its sophisticated colour. Rather than a bright traditional salmon, the flowers display a muted salmon-apricot tone with smoky, vintage undertones. This complex colouring works beautifully with cream, champagne, blush pink, peach, terracotta, dusty rose and soft lavender. It is an outstanding choice for wedding floristry and sophisticated seasonal bouquets. Sowing Transplanting – Recommended Stock performs best when started as transplants. Sow into plug trays or your preferred seed-starting container. Cover the seeds lightly with fine vermiculite. Maintain a temperature of approximately 18–21°C during germination. Germination generally takes around 7–14 days. After germination, provide excellent light and good air circulation. Stock prefers relatively cool growing conditions, and excessively warm temperatures can reduce plant quality and delay flowering. Transplant when the seedlings are well established, taking care not to leave them root-bound for too long. Growing Conditions Milla Salmon is especially suited to cool-season cut flower production. The professional Milla series can be planted from winter through late spring. Under suitable conditions, plants produce excellent stem length from spring into summer. For high-quality cut flowers: Grow in fertile, well-drained soil Provide excellent light Maintain good air circulation Avoid excessive heat Water consistently without waterlogging the soil Use support netting when necessary Grow at approximately 64–80 plants per m² for professional production Very high temperatures may delay flowering and reduce overall crop quality. Double & Single Flowers Stock naturally produces both double- and single-flowering plants. Without selection, Milla Salmon can produce a mixture of doubles and singles. Double flowers create the classic dense, luxurious stock spike, while single flowers have a lighter and more airy appearance that can also be beautiful in natural-style floral arrangements. Selecting for Double Flowers The Milla series can be selected for doubleness at the young seedling stage following an appropriate cold treatment. Seedling characteristics such as cotyledon shape, development and colour can help distinguish potential double-flowering plants. However, with the Milla series, leaf colour alone should not be used as the only selection criterion, as naturally lighter seedlings may occur within the series. For professional production where a high percentage of double flowers is required, careful seedling selection after cold treatment is recommended. Harvesting Harvest when approximately one-third to one-half of the florets on the flower spike have opened. Cut stems at the base and immediately place them into clean water. Stock benefits from careful post-harvest conditioning. Remove foliage that would remain below the water line and keep harvested stems cool. Perfect For Professional cut flower production Flower farms Wedding floristry Bridal bouquets Romantic garden-style arrangements Peach and apricot colour palettes Champagne and blush combinations Vintage-inspired floral designs Spring bouquets Greenhouse and tunnel production Fragrant cut flower gardens Matthiola incana Milla Salmon is an exceptional choice for growers and florists looking for something beyond traditional stock colours. Its sophisticated smoky salmon-apricot flowers, strong stems, excellent flower quality and irresistible fragrance make it a beautiful focal or supporting flower for premium bouquets and wedding work. With its later flowering compared with some early stock series, Milla Salmon is also an excellent variety for growers looking to extend their stock season and create a longer harvest window.