Blue flax is a short-lived perennial with blue-green needlelike leaves on graceful 2-foot-tall stems. Satiny sky blue flowers, borne on wiry stems, appear in late spring, last through mid-summer, and open fully only on sunny days. Small rounded seedheads form in summer. 

Noteworthy CharacteristicsDiscovered and documented by Meriwether Lewis, in whose honor it was named.

CareGrow in lean, well-drained soil and full sun. Cut back to sedum-like basal growth in formal plantings or leave spent flower stems behind to blend in with a naturalistic setting.

PropagationSow seed in spring or autumn.

ProblemsStem rot, rust, wilt, anthracnose, damping off, slugs, snails, and aphids.