Plant Particulars Height: 12-24 inches Spread: to 12 inches Shape: The fast-growing, bushy plants have upright stems and lance-shaped, grayish leaves. Color: Pink, red, yellow, purple Bloom time: Spring, summer Light needs: Full sun Soil: Average, well-drained soil with organic matter. This biennial or short-lived perennial is usually grown as a hardy annual. The fast-growing, bushy plants have upright stems and lance-shaped, grayish leaves. The stems are topped with spikes of four-petaled, 1-inch (2.5) wide flowers in summer. Growing Guidelines: Grows easily from seed sown directly into the garden. Make the first sowing about 1 month before your last frost date. To extend the bloom season, make another sowing in late spring or early summer. (In mild-winter areas, you can also sow in late summer for winter and early-spring bloom). Scatter seeds on the soil surface, then rake lightly to just cover the seed. Keep the seedbed moist until seedlings appear. Thin seedlings to stand 6-8 inches apart. Mulch plants to keep the roots cool and moist. Water during dry spells. Landscape Uses: Use as a filter in beds and borders near your house or outdoor sitting areas, where you can enjoy the fragrance. Other Species: M. Longipetala subsp. bicornis, evening-scented stock, has pale purple to white, night-blooming flowers on 12-inch tall stems. Excerpted from the book "Rodale's Successful Organic Gardening: Annuals and Bulbs".
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