Toxic Plant Known to be toxic - Toxic to grazing mammals if ingested.
Image of Linum lewisii
Source: Donna Bos
image of Flowering plant
Linum lewisii
Lewis' Wild Blue Flax
Lin de Lewis

Obsolete Names

Lewis' blue flax
Lewis' flax
Lewis' wild flax
prairie flax
wild blue flax
Seeds available at table Mixed Sun, Medium
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Bloom colour: Blue Bloom period: May - Jun
Max Height: 3.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet
Light condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
beginner friendly Suitable for beginner gardeners
does not spread Does not spread uncontrollably
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape uses:
rock garden Suitable for rock gardens
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
Ecological Benefits: No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
plant endangered This plant is endangered

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: No

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Linum lewisii
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Taiga Plains
  • Taiga Shield
  • Boreal Plains
  • Montane Cordillera
  • Prairies
  • Boreal Shield
  • Pacific Maritime

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Linum lewisii

No butterfly data available for this plant.

Specialized Bees Supported by Linum lewisii

No bee data available for this plant.

Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

Complementary Plants

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Linum usitatissimum (Common Flax)
  • Myosotis sylvatica (Forget-me-not)

Sowing Information

Download Sowing Label (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
  • Sow anytime
  • Stratification duration: 0 days
  • Self-seeding

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: July
  • Harvesting indicator: Pods are slightly open and seeds inside are dark
  • Harvesting mean: Cut stem (including pods), let air dry in paper bag, then shake seeds off after a few days
  • Seed viability test: No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
  • Seed storage: Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • At least one cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
  • Harvesting video: Watch here

Toxicity Notes

Toxic to grazing mammals if ingested.