Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Fine leaved flax.
Linum tenuifolium
Pronounced LYE-num ten-yoo-ih-FOH-lee-um
This charming perennial brings a delicate touch to rock gardens with its airy habit. It produces lovely, pale flowers that dance atop slender stems. You will find it thrives best in well drained, sunny spots.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Perennial
- Light
- Full sun
- Indoor light
- Direct sun
- Water
- Every 7 to 14 days
- Mature size
- 12 to 18 inches
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Hardiness
- USDA 5 to 9
- Bloom time
- Late spring to mid summer
Care
Plant in gritty soil to ensure excellent drainage, as this plant dislikes sitting in wet earth. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the soil is holding too much moisture. Keep it in a spot with plenty of airflow to maintain its health.
- Watering
- Allow the soil to dry out significantly between waterings to prevent root rot.
- Feeding
- Apply a light, balanced fertilizer once during the spring growing season.
- Pruning
- Trim back the stems after flowering to encourage a tidy shape and potential second bloom.
- Repotting
- Repot only when the plant becomes rootbound, as it prefers to stay somewhat snug in its container.
- Soil
- Sandy, rocky, or well drained loam
- Soil pH
- Neutral to slightly alkaline
- Temperature
- -20 to 35°C
- Humidity
- 20 to 50%
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Lifespan
- Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years
- Deer and rabbits
- Moderate
Signs it needs repotting
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes
- Water sitting on the surface for too long
Safety
- People
- The plant is generally considered non toxic, but ingestion is not recommended.
- Children
- The thin stems are fragile and may break easily if handled by small children.
- Edibility
- This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.
How to identify it
- Slender, needle like gray green leaves
- Delicate five petaled pale pink flowers
- Wiry and branching stems
- Compact, mounded growth habit
- Height
- 0.2 to 0.4m
- Spread
- 0.15 to 0.3m
- Leaves
- gray-green, evergreen
- Flowers
- white, pale pink, 2 to 3cm
Problems to watch for
By symptom
Check your fine leaved flax from a photo
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Growing it
- Propagation
- seed, cuttings
- When to plant
- spring, autumn
- Overwintering
- Ensure the soil remains dry during the winter months to prevent crown rot. No special protection is needed in temperate climates.
- In containers
- It grows well in containers if you use a gritty, fast draining potting mix and a pot at least 20 cm wide.
Seed
- Sow seeds in pots during autumn or early spring.
- Keep the soil barely moist until germination occurs.
- Transplant seedlings to their permanent spot once they are large enough to handle.
Pair this plant with other drought tolerant species that do not require rich, heavy soil.
Grows well with
- Lavender — They share similar requirements for sun and well drained soil.
- Thyme — This low growing herb makes a perfect ground cover partner.
- Pasqueflower — It blooms early and enjoys the same rocky conditions.
Similar species
- Common Flax — It is the most famous relative but is an annual rather than a perennial.
- Blue Flax — It is a very similar perennial species with bright blue flowers.
Science
- Family
- Linaceae
- Genus
- Linum
- Order
- Malpighiales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Native range
- Central and Southern Europe
- Conservation
- It is not currently listed as endangered or protected.
It is adapted to dry, calcareous grasslands and rocky slopes where it avoids competition from taller vegetation.
- Value to wildlife
- nectar source
- Pollinators
- bees, butterflies
- Uses
- rock gardens, xeriscaping, meadow plantings
Through the year
Ecological indicators
- Soil reaction
- 7/9
- Salinity
- 1/9
- Light
- 8/9
- Temperature
- 5/9
- Moisture
- 2/9
- Nutrients
- 2/9
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Questions people ask
- Does it need much water?
- No, it is quite drought tolerant once established.
- Can I grow it in a pot?
- Yes, provided the pot has very sharp drainage.
Where the name comes from
The genus name Linum is the classical Latin name for flax, while the specific epithet tenuifolium refers to its thin, delicate leaves.
Good to know
- It is a close relative of the common flax used for linen.
- The flowers are known to open in the morning and drop their petals by the afternoon.
- It prefers a sunny spot with excellent drainage.
Also in
Keep your fine leaved flax growing
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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.