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| ## blue flax {#blue-flax .Title-Header}                               |
|                                                                       |
| ## Lewis flax {#lewis-flax .Title-Header}                             |
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| *Linum perenne* L.                                                    |
|                                                                       |
| *Linum lewisii* Pursh                                                 |
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| Plant Symbol = LIPE2 & LILE3                                          |
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## *Contributed By: USDA, NRCS, Idaho State Office & National Plant Data Center*

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="2.6638888888888888in"
height="3.107638888888889in"}

# Alternate Names

Prairie flax

# 

# Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: Cultivated flax (*Linum usitatissimum*) is grown both
for fiber (flax) and seed oil (linseed). Linseed oil may cause skin
irritation upon contact.

Ingestion causes difficulty of breathing, paralysis, and convulsions
(Russell et al. 1997).

*Grazing/rangeland*: Blue and Lewis flax are noted to have fair forage
value for livestock and wildlife during spring and winter. Plants stay
green throughout the growing season providing some forage value. Birds
use the seed and capsules in fall and winter. All species provide
diversity to the seeded plant community.

*Erosion control/reclamation/greenstripping*: All flax species are noted
for their value in mixes for erosion control and beautification values.
The six week flowering period and showy blue flowers make seedings more
aesthetically pleasing and increase plant biodiversity. Due to the
semi-evergreen nature of the species, flax can also be used as a fire
suppressant species in greenstrip plantings.

*Wildlife*: Flax is considered desirable forage for deer, antelope, and
birds, either as herbage or seed. They may also provide some cover for
selected small bird species.

# Status

Consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

# Description

*General*: Flax Family (Linaceae). *Linum perenne* is introduced from
Eurasia. *Linum lewisii* is a comparable U.S. native plant (figure 1).
In general, flax is an annual or short-lived, semi-evergreen perennial
forb, sometimes semi-woody at base with attractive flowers ranging from
white to blue to yellow to red in color. Common in the western United
States, blue flax is considered a woody subshrub in the PLANTS database
(USDA, NRCS 2000). According to Cronquist et al. (1997), "the only
significant difference between *Linum lewisii* and the Eurasian *Linum
perenne* appears to be that the former is homostylic, and the latter
heterostylic."

Flax plants have many narrow, small, alternate (rarely opposite), simple
and entire leaves that are sessile (lacking stalks) on the stems. The
perfect and regular, generally showy flowers are borne in racemes or
cymes. The sepals, petals, and stamens are five, the fruit a capsule,
and the seeds in most species are mucilaginous when wet.

**Distribution**

Lewis flax can be found from Alaska to California and east to Minnesota
in mixed grass, sagebrush, shadscale, piñon-juniper, mountain brush and
aspen communities and in openings in coniferous forests. Blue flax is
native to Eurasia and has been planted successfully throughout the
United States. For current distribution, consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

**Adaptation**

Flax species do best on well-drained soils. Most ecotypes do well on
infertile, disturbed soils. They have excellent cold winter and drought
tolerance. They will tolerate weakly saline to weakly acidic sites.
Plants are usually found in open areas, but will tolerate semi-shaded
conditions. They are fire resistant due to leaves and stems staying
green with relatively high moisture content during most of the fire
season.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="2.6638888888888888in"
height="3.338888888888889in"}

# Establishment

*Planting*: Flax should be seeded with a drill or broadcast at a depth
of 1/4 inch or less into a firm seedbed. The ideal seeding depth is 1/8
inch. Flax is not recommended for single species seedings. The full
seeding rate (not recommended) for these forbs is 4 pounds Pure Live
Seed (PLS) per acre or 24 PLS per square foot. When used as a component
of a mix, adjust to percent of mix desired. For mined lands and other
harsh critical areas, doubling the seeding rate component of flax is not
required.

The best seeding results are obtained from seeding in late fall to very
early spring (because of grass component of mix) on heavy to medium
textured soils and in late fall on medium to light textured soils. Late
summer (August - mid September) seeding is not recommended. Dormant fall
seedings (preferred seeding period for flax) will pre-chill seed and
reduce seed dormancy which may be present. Mulching, irrigation, and
weed control all benefit stand establishment. Seedling vigor is good,
but not as good as most grasses. Germination normally occurs the first
growing season, but may not occur until the second growing season. Full
flowering should not be expected until at least the second growing
season.

Stands may require weed control measures during establishment. Because
flax is a broadleaf plant, use of 2,4-D is not recommended. Mow weeds at
or prior to their bloom stage. Grasshoppers and other insects may also
damage new stands and pesticides may be needed.

# Management

Growth of flax begins in early spring and flowers appear in mid May
through early July depending on species. Weed control and removal of
very competitive species may improve chance of establishment. Damage
from wildlife and rodents may occur and they may need to be controlled.
Disease problems are minimal with flax; however fungus problems have
been noted for some native species.

*Environmental Concerns*: Flax species establish relatively quickly and
easily via seed under favorable climatic conditions. They are not
rhizomatous or considered \"weedy\" or invasive species, but could
spread into adjoining vegetative communities under ideal climatic and
environmental conditions. They coexist with other species and add
biodiversity to those plant communities. 'Appar' blue flax seed normally
germinates the first growing season following planting under favorable
temperatures if moisture is available and it generally does not maintain
a viable seed-bank. Native flax accessions tested maintain a portion of
seed, which does not germinate the first growing season, as a viable
seed-bank.

# Seed Production

Flax should be seeded in 24 inch rows at the rate of 2.5 pounds PLS per
acre or 36 inch rows at the rate of 1.5 pounds PLS per acre (25 to 30
seeds per linear foot of row) to allow mechanical weed control. It
should be seeded in early spring (April - May).

Hand rouging within row and cultivation between rows may be required.
Split applications of nitrogen in spring and fall and application of
phosphorus in fall will enhance production. For optimum production, do
not stress plants for moisture during late bud stage, pollination and
re-growth.

Seed is generally harvested in late July to mid-August by wind-rowing
before seed shatter and combining with pickup attachment once green
stems have dried. Seed is mature when capsules are dry and seed is hard
and dark in color. Flowering is indeterminate with mature capsules and
the possibility of some flowers present at harvest period. Some seed
will shatter once capsules open. Seed should be allowed to dry to 12
(bins) to 15 (sacks) percent moisture and then stored in a cool dry
area. Seed retains viability for several years under these conditions.

Seed yields of 600 to 700 pounds per acre of blue flax can be expected
under irrigated conditions and 200 to 300 pounds per acre under dryland
conditions.

Seed yields of Lewis flax from irrigated fields average 300 to 350
pounds per acre. Seed production of Lewis flax under dryland conditions
is not recommended below 16 inches of average annual rainfall.

**Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)**

Foundation and registered seed is available for each variety through the
appropriate state Crop Improvement Association or commercial sources to
grow certified seed.

**\'Appar\'** blue flax (*Linum perenne*) is a selected release from
seed originally collected in the Black Hills of South Dakota. \'Appar\'
was selected by the Forest Service Forest and Range Experiment Station
and Aberdeen Plant Materials Center for outstanding vigor, beauty, and
competitiveness with grasses prevalent on sites where it was collected.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Idaho
Agricultural Experiment Station, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources,
and the Forest Service Forest and Range Experiment Station released
\'Appar\' in 1980. \'Appar\' was released as native flax (*Linum
lewisii*), but was later determined to be a naturalized introduced
species from European origins. \'Appar\' was named in honor of A. Perry
Plumber, Forest Service (retired) who collected the original material.
\'Appar\' is a hardy, relatively short-lived, introduced perennial forb,
12 to 36 inches tall, with deep blue flowers that bloom profusely for
about six weeks beginning in mid May. It is well adapted to sunny open
slopes, well-drained soils from moderately basic to weakly acidic, 10 to
18 inch rainfall areas, at 1,000 to 6,000 feet elevation. It has some
shade tolerance, but is not tolerant of poor drainage, flooding, or high
water tables. It does well seeded in mixtures with other species. Its
intended uses are erosion control, reclamation, highway right-of-ways,
homes, gardens, parks, diversity, and beautification. Certified seed is
readily available through commercial sources and breeder seed is
maintained by Aberdeen Plant Materials Center.

**Maple Grove Germplasm** Lewis flax (*Linum lewisii*) is a recent
(2003) Selected class Germplasm release of a native collection from the
Maple Grove, Utah area. Maple Grove was selected by the Forest Service
Forest and Range Experiment Station and Aberdeen Plant Materials Center
for outstanding vigor, beauty, and competitiveness with grasses
prevalent on sites where it was collected. The Natural Resources
Conservation Service, University of Idaho Agricultural Experiment
Station, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and the Forest Service
Forest and Range Experiment Station released Maple Grove in 2003. Maple
Grove is a hardy, relatively short-lived, native perennial forb, 12 to
36 inches tall, with light blue flowers that bloom profusely for about
six weeks beginning in mid May. It is well adapted to sunny open slopes,
well-drained soils from moderately basic to weakly acidic, 10 to 18 inch
rainfall areas, at 1,000 to 6,000 feet elevation. It has some shade
tolerance, but is not tolerant of poor drainage, flooding, or high water
tables. It does well seeded in mixtures with other species. Its intended
uses are erosion control, reclamation, highway right-of-ways, homes,
gardens, parks, diversity, and beautification. Certified seed is
available through the University of Idaho Foundation Seed Program and
Utah Crop Improvement Associations and Soil Conservation Districts in
Idaho, Utah and Nevada. Certification of seed shall be limited to not
more than two generations from the G3 seed.

There are numerous flax species native to the U.S. that may be available
through native plant nurseries and seed companies. These include the
following: *Linum alatum* (TX & LA), *Linum arenicola* (FL), *Linum
aristatum* (UT & AZ to TX), *Linum berlandieri* (CO to LA), *Linum
catharticum* (northeast US), *Linum compactum* (MT & ND to NM & TX),
*Linum intercursum* (Atlantic states), *Linum lewisii* (central & west
US), *Linum medium* (east & central US), and *Linum virginianum* (east &
midwest US). Please check the PLANTS database for other native flax
species.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government". The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

# References

Cronquist, A., N.H. Holmgren, & P.K. Holmgren 1997. *Intermountain
flora. Vol. 3, Part A. Subclass Rosidae (except Fabales)*. The New York
Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York.

Mosquin, T. 1971. *Biosystematic studies in the North American species
of Linum, section Adenolinum (Linaceae)*. Canadian Journal of Botany
49:1379-1388.

Rogers, C.M. 1968. *Yellow-flowered species of Linum in Central America
and western North America*. Brittonia 20:107-135.

\_\_\_\_\_, 1979. *A new combination in Linum*. Phytologia 41:447-448.

\_\_\_\_\_, 1984. *Linaceae*. N. American Fl. II. 12:1-58.

Russell, A.B., J.W. Hardin, & L. Grand 1997. *Poisonous plants of North
Carolina*. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.

USDA NRCS 2006. *The PLANTS database*. Version: 08MAR2006.
\<http://plants.usda.gov\>. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.

# Prepared By 

*Dan Ogle*, Plant Materials Specialist

USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Boise, ID

*Loren St. John*, Manager

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, ID

*J. Scott Peterson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

*Derek J. Tilley*, Range Conservationist (Plants) USDA NRCS Plant
Materials Center, Aberdeen, ID

**Species Coordinator**

## Daniel G. Ogle

USDA, NRCS, Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho.

Edited 05dec00 jsp; 24Feb06 dgo; 24Feb06 lsj; 24feb06 djt; 08mar06 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
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