Description

Pale flax is a delicate annual or biennial plant similar in appearance to cultivated flax but with a more wiry stem and pale lilac rather than blue flowers. Flowers are produced from May to September followed by round fruit capsules which splits to liberate the 10 seeds each holds.

Habitat Information

Pale flax is a native annual, biennial or short-lived perennial of dry grassland and scrubby grassland, usually near the sea. It favours sheltered, south facing slops on relatively infertile, drought-prone soils and habitats include field margins, paths, verges, old quarries and cliff-slopes.

Flowering occurs from May to September with pollination being carried out by bees, wasps and beetles.

Growing Information

Grows readily from seed sown at any time of the year.