Blue Flax (Linum lewisi, Linum perenne)
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Blue flax (Linum Lewissi) plants growing in a garden landscape |
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Swallowtail butterfly visiting blue flax |
Plant Family
Flax family (Linaceae)
Common Names for Lewis Blue Flax
Lewis flax
Blue flax
Prairie flax
Western blue flax
Description
Two species of blue flax are found in North America. Perennial or common blue flax (Lineum perenne)is a perennial flax from Eurasia that has naturalized in parts of North America. Lewis flax (Lineum Lewisii) is a native North American perennial found throughout the Great Plains and western U.S. and most of Canada.
Both species are short lived perennials that readily reseed. They both range from about 18 to 24 inches in height and are covered with a profusion of small blue flowers from June through August, depending on cultivar.
Blue flax tolerates poor dry soils, needs full sun, and is cold tolerant. This plant is a good choice for the western United States and cold regions of the Mid West and Great Plains states.
Attracts
- Small bees
- Butterflies
- Flower flies
Additional Resources
West
Midwest
Missouri - Flowering Perennials: Characteristics and Culture
Southwest