LINUM. Flax. Nearly worldwide, temperate regions. The following are rugged but graceful perennials, compact in growth, with oval to heath-like leaves. The shoots are tipped in spring and summer by loose clusters of colorful broad-petalled blossoms, each lasting only a day or two but opening in succession for many weeks. Sun, well drained (preferably sandy) soil, occasional to no supplemental watering when established. Hardy to below 0^o, except as shown.

flavum. Golden flax. A bushy plant about 1’ tall, with dark green oval leaves. Its golden yellow 1" flowers are displayed in large clusters, at times nearly covering the plant. ‘Compactum’ is a particularly nice commercial strain, with congested shoots and an almost continuous parade of flowers.

perenne. Blue flax. Europe, North America. These are plants of deceptively delicate appearance. They have slender stems rising about 1’, closely lined by very narrow, blue green leaves. Lavender blue flowers with a silky sheen are loosely clustered at the shoot tips in summer and fall. ‘Sapphire’ is a modern seed strain of floriferous plants. Formerly classified as a subspecies of L. perenne is the western native L. lewisii, one of the beautiful wildflowers which greets the mountain traveller in California. We offer a particularly large-flowered form of this species.