Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Linaceae
Botanical Name
Linum perenne
Plant Common Name
Blue Flax, Perennial Flax
General Description
The tall, airy stems of blue flax produce loads of sky blue flowers for only a short time from early to midsummer, but when in flower they are lovely. Blue flax is a tough perennial native to Eurasia. It is clump-forming, somewhat short-lived, and naturally survives in sunny grasslands where soil is porous and well-drained. There are several natural subspecies, including the English ssp. anglicum and more compact, high-altitude ssp. alpinum.
The blue-green leaves are short, narrow, lance-shaped, sessile (without a stalk) and held on thin, wiry stems. The lower part of the stem is usually leafless. In summer, the sky-blue flowers are produced in profusion in loose, branched groups above the foliage. Individual flowers are cup-shaped and their blue color usually fades to palest blue by the end of the day. The fruit is a small, dry capsule and the flattened, brown seeds within fall to the ground and germinate easily but gently and are not considered invasive.
Blue flax grows best in porous soil and open ground where light is plentiful. In the wild, it can often be found growing on disturbed sites and along roadsides. It has good drought and cold tolerance, particularly when water is limited in the winter. It transplants marginally well but its seed can also be directly sown into the ground. Plant blue flax in masses in rock gardens, borders, beds or allow it to naturalized in open sunny areas.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 7
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 8
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Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
4"-24" / 10.2cm - 61.0cm
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Width
10"-12" / 25.4cm - 30.5cm
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Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
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Native To
Europe, Asia
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Blue, Sky Blue
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Fruit Color
Tan
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Blue Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Blue Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Blue Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
