More Information
| Botanical Name |
Linum perenne |
| Seeds Per Pack |
50 |
| Life Cycle |
Perennial |
| Min. Time to Germinate |
20 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate |
28 Days |
| Depth to Sow Seeds |
1/8 in. |
| When to Sow |
Indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost, Outdoors after all danger of spring frost is past |
| Growing Height |
18-24 in. (45-60 cm) |
| Plant Spacing |
12-15 in. (30-38 cm) |
| Hardiness |
USDA Zone 4a: to -25F, USDA Zone 4b: to -20F, USDA Zone 5a: to -15F, USDA Zone 5b: to -10F, USDA Zone 6a: to -5F, USDA Zone 6b: to 0F, USDA Zone 7a: to 5F, USDA Zone 7b: to 10F, USDA Zone 8a: to 15F, USDA Zone 8b: to 20F, USDA Zone 9a: to 25F, USDA Zone 9b: to 30F |
| Sun Exposure |
Full Sun |
| Danger |
N/A |
| Bloom Color |
Light Blue, Medium Blue |
| Bloom Time |
Late Spring/Early Summer, Mid-Summer |
| Foliage |
Herbaceous |
| Other Details |
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater |
| Soil pH Requirements |
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) |
| Propagation Methods |
From seed; direct sow after last frost, From seed; sow indoors before last frost |
| Seed Collecting |
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds |
Blue flax is a short-lived perennial that produces delicate sky blue flowers that bloom in late spring. The flowers only open fully on sunny days and make a great addition to cottage gardens. The small seed-heads form in the summer, and the seeds can be eaten after cooked. They have a pleasant nutty taste and are very nutritious. Blue flax also has a wide variety of medicinal uses, and attracts birds and butterflies.
NOTE: Seeds should be cooked before eaten, raw seed contains cyanide and should not be eaten.
