Flax Seeds - Blue Perennial Flax
$3.25
Linum perenne
Perennial flax is a hardy, drought-tolerant wildflower that blooms with a showy display of pale blue flowers atop elegant, wispy stems. Though it is native to Europe, it has naturalized throughout much of the United States.
Direct seed in late fall to early spring. Grows best in full sun, but will also tolerate part shade. Plants grow 12 to 24 inches tall, and flower in late spring through early summer beginning in their second year. This self-seeding perennial is hardy to zone 5.
Perennial flax is related to the annual flax that is grown commercially for fiber and seed (Linum usitatissimum), and can yield small quantities of fiber, but should not be harvested for edible seed.
These seeds benefit from cold stratification.
- Planting Information
- Growing Information
| Average Seed / oz | Seed / 100' Row | Average Yield / 100' Row | Days to Harvest |
| 20000 | n/a | n/a | 120-140 |
| Planting Season | Ideal Soil Temp | Sun | Frost Tolerance |
| After Last Frost | 65-80°F | Full Sun | Frost Sensitive |
| Sowing Method | Seed Depth | Direct Seed Spacing | Seeds Per Packet |
| Direct Seed | 1/8" | 4-8" | 80 |
| Mature Spacing | Days to Sprout | Production Cycle | Seed Viability |
| 4-6" | 20-25 | Annual | 2 years |
Site Selection
Flax is a frost-sensitive annual that prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Flax thrives in cool, moist growing conditions.
Cultivation
Flax can be direct seeded outdoors in spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Optimal soil temperatures for germination are 65-80°F. Sow seeds 1/8" deep. Seeds will germinate in 20-25 days. Thin seedlings so mature plants are 4-6" apart. Flax readily self-seeds year after year.
Harvest
If growing for fiber, harvest flax stems before seeds fully mature (120-140 days). Allow some plants to set seed to ensure flax plants the following year.