In general, it is an annual or short-lived, semi-evergreen perennial forb, sometimes semi-woody, with attractive flowers ranging from white to blue to red in color. The yellow to red flowers of the flax species can be harmful to humans.
Flax has been used for thousands of years as a source of food, fuel, fiber, and medicine. below)
- It is also used in the manufacture of paper
- Cloth
- Paper products
- Textiles
- Plastics
- Paints
- Detergents
- Lubricants
- Food additives
- Cosmetics
- Pharmaceuticals
- Insecticides
- Pesticides
- Fungicides
- Herbicides
Flax oil is used as an emulsifier in many products. States, it is the second most widely used vegetable oil after palm oil.
Table of Contents
What does perennial flax look like?
Strikingly beautiful in bloom, Linum perenne (Perennial Flax) is a semi-evergreen perennial forming tufts of narrow blue-green leaves and profuse sky blue saucer-shaped flowers, 1 in. across and 1/2 inch across.
States, it is commonly grown as a ground cover, but it can also be grown in containers, as well as in the ground. It is one of the few perennials that can grow in full sun or partial shade, making it an excellent choice for the home gardener.
Is blue flax a perennial?
Blue flax is a short-lived perennial with blue-green needlelike leaves on two-foot tall stems. The sky blue flowers appear in late spring, last through midsummer, and are only open on sunny days. The small rounded seed heads form in the summer. Flowers open in early spring and remain open until late summer, when they close.
Flowers bloom in clusters of 3-5 flowers on a single stem. The flowers are fragrant in the early morning and late afternoon, but are less so at night. Flower color varies from light blue to dark blue, depending on the variety.
Will flax rebloom if cut back?
Both annual and perennial flax will continue to bloom well if they are cut back by half after the first flush of bloom. If you live in a hotter climate, you will not be able to bloom in the spring.
Flax should be fertilized once a year with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 1,000 sq. ft. of lawn, depending on the type of grass and the amount of fertilizer you are using. This fertilizer will help the grass grow faster, but it is not necessary to fertilize every year.
You can also add a few drops of organic fertilizer to the lawn after each watering to help prevent weeds from growing.
Does flax reseed itself?
Continued bloom of the flax flower is assured if conditions are right, due to self-seeding of this plant. A single planting in early spring provides an abundance of flowers in late spring and summer, but re-planting by this plant assures a continued mass of flowers in the meadow. Flax can be grown from seed or cuttings.
Seeds are available at most garden centers and nurseries, and can also be purchased from a variety of online sources. Cutting the plant from the stem and planting it in a pot is a good way to get the most out of it. Flax is easy to care for and grows well in full sun to partial shade.
It can tolerate a wide range of soil types, although it prefers well-drained soil with a pH of between 6.5 and 7.0. The plant prefers moist soil, so it is best to keep the soil moist during the growing season. Watering is not necessary during this time of year, as the roots will take care of themselves.
Should flax be deadheaded?
Deadheading the flowers is not needed but encouraged when you want to prevent seeding. The plant can be grown in the garden if it is self-sufficient. The flowers are very fragrant and will attract hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Should I trim my flax?
The only pruning one should ever give a New Zealand flax (phormium) is to remove leaves if they are battered or turning brown. If you do this, you should cut the leaves to the ground because cutting the leaves down will hurt the plant. First of all, make sure that you have the right plant for the job.
If you are looking for a flowering plant, then you will need to look for one that has a lot of flowers and is very easy to care for. The best way to find out what pests and diseases are in your area is by contacting your local pest control company.
They will be able to tell you which pests are present and which ones are not, and they can also advise you on what you can do to prevent them from coming into your garden in the first place.
