They have dainty four petaled flowers of purple or pink.
They look nice growing in garden borders.
A common name of Malcolmia is Virginia Stock.
Malcolmia by Ripplestone garden; creative commons.
Common Names: Virginia Stock, African Mustard.
Family: Brassicaceae.
Life Cycle: Half hardy annual, hardy annual.
Height: 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm).
Native: Europe, Africa.
Growing Region: Zones 3 to 8.
Flowers: Spring, summer and autumn.
Flower Details: Purple, lavender, pink. Four petals. Fragrant.
Foliage: Furry stems. Grows in clumps. Long siliques.
Sow Outside: Surface. Sow once per month from just before the last frost until the end of summer; and at the end of autumn in milder areas. Spacing four inches (10 cm).
Sow Inside: No.
Requirements: Full sunlight or partial shade. Moist soil. Regular watering.
It is best to grow Virginia Stock outdoors and to sow the seeds once a month (from early spring to autumn) for continuous flowering from spring until autumn.
Malcolmia will flower the following spring. The seeds should be sown on the surface and take about two weeks to germinate.
Virginia Stock is able to grow in both sunny and partially shaded gardens, and though the soil type is not important, it is beneficial to add manure when sowing seeds.
It is easy to look after Virginia stock, once growing they require regular watering and dead plants removed following flowering.
With the last crop of Virginia stock plants allow to set and drop seed to have a bloom of Malcolmia plants the following spring.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Malcolmia plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Malcolmia and Iberis plants.