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Grooved Yellow Flax

Linum sulcatum

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Category
Forb / Wildflower
Sun
Full
Soil moisture
Medium-Dry to Dry
Bloom time
Jul–Sep
Bloom color
Yellow
Notes
Annual

About Grooved Yellow Flax

Grooved Yellow Flax is a dainty and slender annual that brings subtle, sunny charm to dry prairie remnants and rocky glades. Reaching heights of 1 to 2 feet, it features small, bright yellow flowers with five petals that open in the morning and often drop by the afternoon. The common name refers to the distinctive longitudinal grooves found on its stems, a unique feature that aids in identification. This species thrives in full sun and well-drained, medium-dry to dry soils, often appearing in areas with limestone bedrock. It is a resilient plant that supports various native bees, including bumblebees and long-horned bees, who visit for its pollen and nectar. As an annual, it relies on its seeds to persist, making it a great addition to a dynamic, self-seeding wildflower planting.

Native range

Native to 34 states:

AlabamaArkansasConnecticutFloridaGeorgiaIowaIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew YorkOhioOklahomaPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasVirginiaVermontWisconsinWest Virginia

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Linum sulcatum

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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