Common flax comes out of Turkey and Iran, where it was first cultivated for fiber long before recorded history. The linen on ancient Egyptian mummies, the oil pressed from its seeds — this modest annual carries an extraordinary backstory beneath those pale blue flowers. In temperate gardens it is grown as an annual, and a frugal one at that: thin stems, airy habit, and a quiet beauty that suits it to naturalistic plantings rather than formal beds.

It flowers in late spring into midsummer, preferring moist, well-drained soil that leans slightly acidic to neutral. Full sun is non-negotiable — in shade it runs weak and floppy. Like its perennial cousin, it resents clay and will root shallowly if drainage is poor. Sow seed directly where it is to grow; flax does not take well to transplanting. After the first flowering flush, trim stems back halfway to extend the season into summer.