Introduction

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

General Information

Scientific name: Linum perenne 'Bright Eyes'

Pronunciation: LYE-num per-REN-nuh

Common name(s): 'Bright Eyes' perennial flax

Family: Linaceae

Plant type: herbaceous

USDA hardiness zones: 5 through 8 (Figure 2)

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: Unknown

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.