Linum perenne Diamant - Perennial flax

Linum perenne 'Diamant' is a compact variety of perennial Flax, forming a bushy clump of fine, slightly bluish-green to greyish-green foliage. From late June onwards, it produces flowers that last only a day but are constantly renewed. Their single, pure white corollas harmonise perfectly with the foliage and bloom throughout the summer. This perennial with a slightly wild appearance is perfect for rockeries, as it appreciates well-drained, even dry soils, and sunny positions.

Linum belongs to the small Linaceae family, which owes its name to it, and whose other members are little known except for the shrubby Yellow Flax (Reinwardtia indica) sometimes found in gardens on the French Riviera. Cultivated flax (Linum usitatissimum) is the one that immediately comes to mind, but the genus is actually very rich, with approximately 200 species. Linum perenne is a perennial plant native mainly to Turkey and Siberia, used as an ornamental in our gardens. It is a fast-growing perennial with a fairly short lifespan, so it is often used as a biennial. The wild species reaches 50 to 60 cm in height, producing blue flowers 2 to 3 cm in diameter in summer that last only a day and attract butterflies. It self-seeds easily, thus compensating for its short longevity.
Linum perenne 'Diamant' is a horticultural selection distinguished from the species by its more compact habit, rarely exceeding 25 to 30 cm in height, with a similar spread. The thin, upright stems are clothed in narrow, lanceolate, bluish-green to greyish-green leaves. The fast-growing plant forms a dense clump covering the ground well, especially when planted in groups. Flowering usually begins around June (depending on the climate) and continues until September, presenting funnel-shaped, 3 cm diameter flowers. The single corollas are pure white, marked by a golden-yellow heart that adds a bright note. In warm climates, flowering will be earlier (May) but will also end before the peak heat of August, while in cool climates, it will bloom from July to September. The evergreen clumps are very hardy and overwinter without problems.

Linum perenne Diamant will easily find a place in a naturalistic garden with its slightly wild appearance. Not very long-lived, it naturalises easily. Like Hypericum perforatum, St John's Wort, or Burnet Rose with single white flowers followed by black fruits, it is one of those plants capable of giving a country air to the garden. You can plant it in a sunny rockery alongside Rock Soapwort, renowned for its generous carpets of pink flowers. This flax with its airy flowering will also be welcome to lighten a flower bed, among plants with more imposing flowers or leaves. It will thus be well placed among Irises with sword-like leaves, and its flowering will take over from the irises in late spring. Finally, you can pair it with other summer blooms, such as that of Perovskia atriplicifolia Lacey Blue, a shrub with grey foliage and bluish flowers.