Linum lewisii Prairie Flax Native Blue Flax Seed & Plants
LIN-um  lew-ISS-ee-eye
Easyliving Native Perennial Wildflowers
Native Wild Flower Seeds & Plants for Home Landscaping and Prairie Restoration

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For other flowers visit the wildflower seed list , to order copy the orderform or 
email questions, comments, and orders to john@easywildflowers.com
We accept payment by check, money order & through PayPal
Linum lewisii, Prairie Flax, native Blue Flax potted plants are available, $4 each plus boxing & UPS shipping

Seed shipping chart at bottom of page
Linum lewisii, Prairie Flax or native Blue Flax, light blue flowers attract butterflies, this western native wildflower does best in dry sunny conditions and light soils, blooms late spring into summer, blooms first year, perennial, 1 to 2 feet tall, 

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.

 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. 

Native Linum lewisii Prairie Blue Flax is beneficial in mixes for erosion control and beautification values.  Prairie 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.  They provide diversity to the plant community.  Linum lewisii is native to the US.  In general, flax is an annual or short-lived, semi-evergreen perennial forb, sometimes semi-woody at base with attractive blue flowers.  Common to the western United States. 

Native Linum lewisii Prairie Blue Flax wildflowers do well on infertile, disturbed soils.  They have excellent cold winter and drought tolerance.  They will tolerate weakly saline to weakly acidic sites.  They 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.

Prairie Flax should be broadcast or seeded with a drill at a depth of 1/4 inch or less into a firm seedbed.  The ideal seeding depth is 1/8 inch.  Prairie Flax should be used in mixes and 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 seeds per square foot. 

The best seeding results for Native Linum lewisii Prairie Blue Flax are obtained from seeding in late fall to very early spring 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.

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.

Growth of Native Linum lewisii Prairie Blue Flax begins in early spring and flowers appear in mid May through early July

The map below shows areas where native Blue Flax (Prairie Flax) plants grow wild but it can be planted and will grow over a much wider area than shown.  
USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 9. 

Use the chart below for shipping charges on Native Linum lewisii Prairie Blue Flax flower seeds, to order copy the order form or email questions, comments & orders to john@easywildflowers.com

We accept payment by check, money order, and through Paypal

The minimum seed order amount is $10, this can be a combination of different seeds.

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Easyliving Wildflowers
PO Box  522
Willow Springs,  Mo.  65793
phone-fax 417-469-2611 

Native Linum lewisii Prairie Blue Flax Plant distribution map complements of USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1
  (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.