Linum perenne Saphir - Perennial Flax

The Linum perenne Saphir is a variety of perennial flax that is small in size. It forms a bushy clump and offers bouquets of ephemeral flowers of the most beautiful sky blue colour, above a very fine foliage, slightly bluish green. They wither once the sun sets, but constantly renew themselves; for two to three months, they offer a lovely swirling spectacle that is always renewed. Perennial flax appreciates the sun, light, rocky soils, even dry ones. Plant it in sunny flower beds or rockeries, it brings a nice countryside touch to any decor.

The Linum perenne is a plant native to Siberia, Europe, and temperate Asia, belonging to the linaceae family. The Linum perenne Saphir is a more compact horticultural selection. It is a small, hardy perennial plant, with a short lifespan, forming a bouquet of delicate stems adorned with persistent green-blue foliage, composed of very fine leaves. When in bloom, the Linum perenne Saphir forms small bushy clumps, 30 cm (12in) in height and 30 cm (12in) in width. The flowering spreads, depending on the regions, from May to June (in hot and dry climates) or from July to September, in the form of bouquets of five-petaled flowers, funnel-shaped, 2 to 3 cm (1in) in size. They are of an intense light blue colour, finely veined with darker blue, with a satin texture. This plant, often grown as a biennial, readily self-seeds in light, sandy, or rocky soil. Very hardy, it forms a evergreen rounded clump in winter.

Flax is unrivaled, just like Nigella, for lightening up flower beds and adding a touch of naturalness to sophisticated scenes. They suffer from somewhat precarious health, which often makes them disappear within a few years, but they naturalize easily. Plant perennial flax without moderation in rockeries, meadows, borders, flower beds, or beds with light soil, alongside Grasses. Amidst Iris germanica, perennial flax lightens the sword-shaped foliage, fills the space between the stems, and takes over once their flowering is over. It also performs well in pots. Its elegance pairs well with gray-foliaged plants like Senecio cineraria, Artemisias, Lavenders, California Poppies, which require the same growing conditions. Like Perennial Geraniums, blue flax is a lovely companion for Peonies and Old-fashioned Roses.