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Publication #FPS- 346

 

Linum perenne 'Bright Eyes' Eyes Perennial Flax1

Edward F. Gilman2

Introduction

Perennial flax produces blue flowers during June and July and grows 12 to 18 inches tall (Fig. 1).

General Information

Scientific name: Linum perenne 'Bright Eyes'
Pronunciation: LYE-num per-REN-nuh
Common name(s): 'Bright Eyes' perennial flax
Figure 1. 

'Bright Eyes' perennial flax


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Family: Linaceae
Plant type: herbaceous
USDA hardiness zones: 5 through 8 (Fig. 2)
Figure 2. 

Shaded area represents potential planting range.


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Planting month for zone 7: year round
Planting month for zone 8: year round
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: edging; mass planting

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Description

Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Plant habit: upright
Plant density: open
Growth rate: moderate
Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: linear
Leaf venation: none, or difficult to see
Leaf type and persistence: deciduous
Leaf blade length: less than 2 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: blue
Flower characteristic: summer flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: unknown
Fruit length: unknown
Fruit cover: unknown
Fruit color: unknown
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable
Current year stem/twig color: green
Current year stem/twig thickness: thin

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun; plant grows in the shade
Soil tolerances: slightly alkaline; occasionally wet; acidic; sand; loam; clay
Drought tolerance:
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 12 to 18 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: may self-seed each year
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests

Use and Management

Pests and Diseases

Stem rot causes stem rotting. Infected plants have a cottony mold growing on the stem. The disease is caused by Sclerotinia sclerotianum .

Footnotes

1.

This document is FPS- 346, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 1999. Revised May 2007. Reviewed June 2011. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.