Golden flax

Golden flax: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Compact clump 30–40 cm tall and about 30 cm wide, with upright stems and a slightly woody base.

Leaves

Narrow and lance-shaped, 2–3 cm long, blue-green; partly evergreen in mild winters.

Flower

Funnel-shaped, about 3 cm across, bright yellow; in loose clusters from June to August. Each flower stays open only briefly.

Fruit

Small, round seed capsules after flowering.

Roots

Deep root system, so it copes well with drought. Avoid moving it once it is old.

Flowering: June–August · Plants: April–May · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• Bright yellow flowers in summer, a colour that is missing from many dry, poor gardens.
• Tolerates drought and heat and needs hardly any water or feed.
• Compact and tidy: it fits a rock garden, gravel garden, dry slope or the front of a border.
• The flowers are visited by bees looking for nectar and pollen.
• The blue-green foliage largely stays on the plant in a mild winter.

Golden flax: where does it grow best?

• Full sun in a warm, open spot: in shade it flops and flowers poorly.
• Very well-drained sandy or loamy soil, preferably chalky (neutral to alkaline). Rich, fertile soil gives floppy growth.
• Dry to fairly dry: it will not tolerate wet feet, especially in winter.
• Open up heavy clay with coarse sand or grit, or plant on a slight mound or slope.
• Allow 25–30 cm between plants.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Dry

Size

0.4 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -20 °C)

Goes well with

• Lavender: The same dry, sunny spot; purple spikes next to the yellow funnels.
• Ornamental sage: Violet flower spikes that contrast nicely with yellow.
• Stonecrop: Stays low and has the same needs: dry, poor soil.
• Sheep’s fescue: Fine blue-green grass that frames the flowers softly.

Golden flax: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May.

1. Plant in April or May, when the soil is warming up and the worst frosts are over.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot and mix in coarse sand or fine grit for good drainage.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot, with the crown just above the soil.
4. Space plants 25–30 cm apart; a group of three to five plants looks best.
5. Water well once after planting, then only during long dry spells.
6. Spread a layer of gravel or grit around the plant rather than compost: it keeps the crown dry.

Care

Watering

Rarely once established. Only during long dry spells in the first year; after that it looks after itself.

Feeding

Not needed. Rich soil or fertiliser gives long, floppy stems that fall over.

Mulching

Use gravel or grit, not compost or bark: these hold moisture around the crown.

Spent flowers

Cut off faded clusters if you want more flowers; leave a few if you want to collect seed.

Tidying

In March, cut dead stems back to just above the fresh shoots.

Tip: Mix plenty of grit into the soil and never let it sit wet in winter: wet roots are its worst enemy. The cultivar ‘Compactum’ stays lower and tidier in a rock garden.

Golden flax: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: In March, as soon as you can see where the new shoots are starting. It needs very little pruning.

How:

• Cut dead or winter-damaged stems back to just above a healthy shoot.
• Remove faded flower clusters in summer to prolong flowering.
• Do not cut into the bare, old wood below the leaves: it does not always shoot again.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Softwood cuttings

In May–June: take 5–8 cm tip cuttings and insert them in sandy compost, kept lightly moist and bright but out of strong sun. They root within a few weeks.

Seed

Sow on the surface of sandy seed compost in March–April and barely cover. Prick out seedlings while young, as older plants resent being moved.

Golden flax: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −20 °C.

• Fully hardy, down to about −20 °C: no protection is needed in Belgian winters.
• Frost is no problem, but wet soil in winter is: choose a well-drained spot so the roots do not rot.
• In a pot: stand it against a wall or under an overhanging roof so rain does not saturate the pot.

Diseases and pests

• Root rot: A limp, yellow-brown plant with brown roots in wet, heavy soil. Move it to a free-draining spot or mix in grit.
• Floppy growth: Long stems that fall over in shade or rich soil. Give more sun and no feed.
• Slugs: Young plants get nibbled in spring. Collect the slugs in the evening with a torch.
• Aphids: Sometimes on young shoots. A jet of water is usually enough.

Through the year

• March: Cut dead stems back to just above the fresh shoots. Sow if you wish.
• April: Plant. Sow in sandy soil.
• May: Plant. Lay grit around the crown.
• June: Flowering begins. Take softwood cuttings.
• July: Full flower. Remove faded clusters.
• August: Last flowers. Leave a few clusters for seed.
• September: Collect the seed capsules. No watering needed.
• November: Check that rainwater drains away well.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• Linum is the Latin word for flax and flavum means yellow. The genus is best known for common flax, whose fibres give linen and whose seed gives linseed.
• In the wild, golden flax grows on dry, chalky grassland, often on sunny slopes.