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The Natives are Friendly
Blue Flax
The Natives are Friendly
Blue Flax
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It seems like every year it gets drier and drier here in Texas. It is a little depressing
to think that the folks that got 3/100th of an inch of rain are the lucky ones. But even
that is not enough moisture to knock down the dust for more that a few hours. It is
so dry that it is difficult to even think about gardening. It kinda takes the fun out of
planning a flower bed or garden, when the chance of the little plants living seems so
remote.
But, there are plants that can not just tolerate these harsh conditions, but actually
thrive. One of those plants that in fact need dry conditions is Blue Flax (Linum
lewisii). This tough little perennial plant does great in a drought and even likes poor
soils. Normally growing from one to two feet tall, the Blue Flax puts on hundreds of
wonderful little blue flowers from early May until the end of September, making it an
excellent long blooming perennial that thrives on neglect. This plant is found in
nature in sandy soils in the western half of the state and in northern Mexico, but it will
do well in any well drained soil. It prefers to be in the full sun; however it will bloom
well with only a half day of direct sun.
to think that the folks that got 3/100th of an inch of rain are the lucky ones. But even
that is not enough moisture to knock down the dust for more that a few hours. It is
so dry that it is difficult to even think about gardening. It kinda takes the fun out of
planning a flower bed or garden, when the chance of the little plants living seems so
remote.
But, there are plants that can not just tolerate these harsh conditions, but actually
thrive. One of those plants that in fact need dry conditions is Blue Flax (Linum
lewisii). This tough little perennial plant does great in a drought and even likes poor
soils. Normally growing from one to two feet tall, the Blue Flax puts on hundreds of
wonderful little blue flowers from early May until the end of September, making it an
excellent long blooming perennial that thrives on neglect. This plant is found in
nature in sandy soils in the western half of the state and in northern Mexico, but it will
do well in any well drained soil. It prefers to be in the full sun; however it will bloom
well with only a half day of direct sun.
The classical Latin name of flax is linum,
the word from which the genus and
family (Linaceae) names are derived.
For many years, blue flax was called
Lewis' flax in honor of Captain
Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark
Expedition. Members of the Expedition
first discovered the plant in Montana.
Botanists have since ascertained that
the plant is a variety of a species long
grown in Europe as an ornamental..
This variety of blue flax was first
described for science by the German
botanist Frederick Pursh in his
the word from which the genus and
family (Linaceae) names are derived.
For many years, blue flax was called
Lewis' flax in honor of Captain
Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark
Expedition. Members of the Expedition
first discovered the plant in Montana.
Botanists have since ascertained that
the plant is a variety of a species long
grown in Europe as an ornamental..
This variety of blue flax was first
described for science by the German
botanist Frederick Pursh in his
monumental Flora Americae Septentrionalis of 1814. In this flora, which contains the
first descriptions of plants found on lands acquired by the Louisiana Purchase, Pursh
credited the discovery of 123 noteworthy species to Lewis and Clark. Flowers last
only a single day but occur in such profusion that this does not take away from the
plant's astonishing beauty.
This is a great little plant to use just about any where in the garden. It is particularly
well suited for rock gardens, perennial beds and even as a container plant.
first descriptions of plants found on lands acquired by the Louisiana Purchase, Pursh
credited the discovery of 123 noteworthy species to Lewis and Clark. Flowers last
only a single day but occur in such profusion that this does not take away from the
plant's astonishing beauty.
This is a great little plant to use just about any where in the garden. It is particularly
well suited for rock gardens, perennial beds and even as a container plant.