Fairy flax Linum catharticum
Table of Contents
Fairy flax is a small, delicate annual wildflower belonging to the Linaceae family. It thrives on free draining sites including sand dunes, grassland and hilly areas, It’s attractive to bees and other pollinators that are attracted to its rich source of nectar.
Plant Family: Linaceae
Aliases: Dwarf flax, mountain flax
Flowering Period: May – September
Flower colour: White
Soil type: Dry, high pH
Habitat: Grassland, heathland, sand dunes
Status: Common
General information
Fairy flax Linum catharticum is an annual species of flax that is native to the UK and Europe and is renowned for its delicate appearance. It typically grows on free draining soils, often preferring alkaline conditions and can be found in grassland, heathland and sand dunes.
It’s a sun loving wildflower and despite its fragile appearance, it can withstand windy conditions and is often found on cliffs and hilly areas. It’s a sprawling plant that grows between 10 – 40 cm in height, its height is influenced by several factors, including soil type, moisture content and the amount of surrounding vegetation.
Identification
Flowers: Fairy flax flowers have a delicate appearance, they’re small, typically just a few millimeters in diameter with each flower consisting five white petals (occasionally they may have a pink tinge to them). The center of the flowers are yellow and are borne on thin, green stems, blooming between May and September
Leaves: The small leaves are lanceolate to ovate in shape, they’re typically smooth and hairless
Value for wildlife
The flowers of fairy flax attract bees, butterflies, hoverflies and moths, which come to feed on the pollen and nectar produced by this plant.
Fairy flax gallery
Click to enlarge
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