LEWIS' PERENNIAL FLAX SEEDS

Linum lewisii

This is the beautiful blue flax native to Western North America, “discovered" by Meriwether Lewis. It is a hardy perennial or woody subshrub that is relatively short-lived but one that self-sows so prodigeously that it really does not matter. Growing to just 18"-24", the bast fibers in its stems are shorter than those of the common fiber flax, Linum usitatissimum, but it was nonetheless utilized for rope and basketry and other diverse textiles by Native American peoples over many millennia. Highly recommended for gardening artists.

Beautiful blue flowers bloom summer through autumn, even in dry neglected soils. An excellent choice for native xeriscaping and dry prairies and meadows. In the Northeast it does well in shale given full sun. Requires drainage to overwinter. Avoid coddling these plants and you will be rewarded with many months of shimmering sky blue blooms.

Seeds exhibit conditional dormancy that requires one or more winters to germinate. Best sown outdoors in autumn for germination the following spring, although some seeds will wait to germinate the second spring and beyond. A very small number of seeds seem to germinate promptly in frosty conditions, making it worthwhile to sow in late winter and very early spring if you missed the chance in autumn, but in general several weeks of cold are going to see the optimal germination rate, and even then it isn't great. This species has evolved to maintain a bank of seeds in the soil that will germinate in diverse conditions over the course of years. It is adaptable and intelligent and will reward the patient gardener in the long term.

Packet contains around 500 seeds.