Blue Flax

Blue Flax (Linum Perenne) - Blue Flax is a perennial flower which will bloom the second year when grown from wildflower seed. It grows from tough, expanding clumps, and produces little pastel blue flowers, 1/2 - 1 inch across that bloom on light and graceful arching branches. Each bloom only lasts a day, but a new flower will open each day to take its place. It is very pretty! It will grow in all regions of North America, and it prefers full sun, and loose, dry soil, but it is very adaptable.

The clear Blue Flax flowers that appear in late spring are the hallmarks of perennial Flax. Clusters of buds typically droop at the branching ends of the slim stems. They open to an inch wide, and are 5 petaled flowers. Buds bloom successively over the weeks, opening in the early mornings just before dawn. Unless the day is overcast, the fully open flowers drop their petals by midday. A new round of bloom follows each day through to mid-summer. Because these Linum Perenne plants produce a profusion of buds, there are always plenty of flowers during its bloom season. Blue Flax will also drop its wild flower seed to reseed itself the following spring.

Blue Flax wild flowers do best on well-drained soils. They have excellent cold winter and drought tolerance. This wild flower prefers a soil pH of around 6.5 to 7.5. Wild flower seed plants are usually found in open areas, but will tolerate semi-shaded conditions. They are fire resistant due to leaves and stems staying green with relatively high moisture content during most of the fire season.