Lewis flax Linum lewisii
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Adenolinum lewisii
- Linum lewisii var. lewisii
- Linum perenne subsp. lewisii
- Linum perenne var. lewisii
- Linum sibiricum var. lewisii
- Phonetic Spelling
- LY-num loo-WIS-ee-eye
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Blue Flax is a native, herbaceous perennial with a showy five-petaled, saucer-shaped flower that is pollinated by bees and flies. It is in the Linaceae family. It is native to the Great Plains and western areas of the United States and is commonly found in dry, open areas in the mountains, foothills, prairies, and along roads. Occasionally it is grown in flower gardens further east. The name Linum comes from the Greek name for flax, and lewisii is named for Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809), the famous American explorer.
Blue flax will grow up to 24 inches tall with a spread of 1-2 feet, in a mounded shape. It requires full sun and dry, sandy, barren soil. If planted in rich, moist soil the wildflower will droop and sprawl; do not over-water. It will grow in soil that is moderately basic to slightly acidic.
This plant self-seeds easily. The root system is a deep taproot. For best results, seed in late fall to early spring; seeding in late summer is not recommended. Each plant only lasts a few years, but they freely self-seed, keeping its presence in the garden. Cut back the top half of the plant after blooming unless many seedlings are desired.
Plant blue flax in the garden for movement, color and texture. Use it along sunny garden paths, rocky areas, and in containers. Plants flower profusely, with saucer-shaped flowers that bloom in the morning and then drop off at noon. The blooming season stretches from late spring through summer. The wildflower is easy to grow in areas that are hot and dry.
The wildflower attracts pollinators; bees suck nectar and Muscoid flies feed on pollen. The seeds are edible when cooked and have a pleasant, nutty flavor. Native Americans found many uses for blue flax, including using fibrous stems for baskets and crushed stems or leaves in medicinal poultices.
insects, Diseases, and other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease issues; watch for slugs, snails and aphids.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Linum
- Species:
- lewisii
- Family:
- Linaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used Lewis flax in many ways. Fibers from the stems were used in baskets, mats, fishing nets, and snowshoes. Medicinal uses included poultices of crushed leaves and seeds to treat infected wounds, irritated eyes, bruises, etc.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Great Plains, Western U.S. and Canada
- Distribution:
- It is native throughout the Great Plains westward, and North America as far north as Alaska, and as far south as in northern Mexico. It has been introduced in some eastern states, such as West Virginia. It is common along roadsides and meadows.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts small bees and Muscoid flies. The bees suck the nectar and flies feed on pollen. Deer mice eat the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edibility:
- Once cooked, the seeds are edible; they must not be eaten raw because they contain cyanide. The seeds have a nutty taste and are nutritious.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The spherical capsules produce up to 10 seeds each. It splits from the tip into 10 sections, each with a dark brown or black seed. Seeds are produced on the lower flowers.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Denim blue flowers open at sunrise and petals fall by noon. The plant usually requires up to 3 years to mature and flower. Each stem ends in a cyme of 10 flowers. When they are budding, the stem droops downward, but when flowers bloom, it is more erect.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate gray-green or gray-blue, narrow, oblong leaves appear to be arranged in whorls around lower stems.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Stems are tough and fibrous although they look thin and fragile. The stem is leafy when young; most of the leaves fall off as it matures. There are multiple stems from the base, each one terminating in a cyme of 10 flowers.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- In animals: severe respiratory difficulty followed shortly by death. Blue flax is unlikely to be a problem unless cattle and sheep eat large quantities of the plant. Seeds and oil are safe for human consumption if they are cooked.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- cyanogenic glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
