Linum bienne aka Pale Flax

Linum bienne, or pale flax, belongs to the flax family, Linaceae. The RHS also records the Welsh name llin culddail. Its native range runs from Macaronesia through western Europe and the Mediterranean to Iran. It is native to Britain and Ireland, including their southern parts. Its wider range includes North Africa, the Caucasus, and western Asia. Kew places it in the temperate climate zone.

This small plant reaches about 2 feet [0.6 metres] tall. Its spread is about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres]. Sources differ on how long it lives. Kew describes it as biennial or perennial. Plants For A Future lists annual and perennial forms. These accounts allow for more than one life cycle. Its stems provide fibre that people use to make cloth. The supplied species accounts give no further leaf or stem details.

Flowers appear from May to September, according to Plants For A Future. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees and flies pollinate them. Seeds ripen from July to October, overlapping with the flowering season. The evidence does not describe the flowers' shape or colour. Nor does it give details of the fruit. The RHS flower description covers the genus, rather than this species alone.

In the wild, pale flax grows in dry grassland. It often occurs near coasts and on lime-rich ground. In gardens, it prefers light soil with good drainage. Sandy and loamy soils both suit it. Choose a sunny site, since it does not grow in shade. Plants For A Future recommends moderate fertility and soil rich in humus. It prefers moist soil despite its dry grassland habitat. Mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils are suitable. A sheltered site suits cultivation, though the plant can withstand strong winds. It does not tolerate maritime exposure. The source lists USDA zones 6–9 and reports frost tolerance.

Pale flax can grow in cultivated beds. Sow its seed in place in early spring. Its flowering season and stem fibre are documented garden and practical features. Plants For A Future records no known food or medicinal uses. It also reports no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. The supplied accounts identify no specific pests or diseases. Plants For A Future does not flag it as weedy.