True blue flowers in summer over fine foliage that appears delicate but is extremely tough, and was once used in Europe to make linen and rope. Plants are easily grown in average, well-drained soils and freely self-seed, so although individual plants can be short-lived we include them with our perennials.
Flowers open early on sunny mornings, but petals usually drop by late afternoon. Cutting plants back by half midway through the bloom season will prolong flowering. Flax looks best when massed and makes a perfect border front, meadow, and wild, informal, naturalized mixed plantings. Tolerates heat, humidity and drought.