Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Perennial
Succulent
Origin
Europe, Asia
Southern Africa
Types
Winged flax, Bristle flax, Fairy flax
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
430
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-810-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-7
10-1
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
45.72 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.72 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Blue, Sky Blue
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Tan
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Narrow
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Midseason Pruning, Prune in fall, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Butterflies, Flies
Butterflies
Allergy
Cyanide poisoning
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antirheumatic, Carminative, Emollient, Ophthalmic, Poultice, Stomachic
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Seeds
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Fibre, For making oil, Used in paper industry
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
LINUM perenne
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Perennial Flax, Blue flax, Alpine flax
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Blue Flax Plant
Elephant Bush
In German
Blaue Flachspflanze
Elephant Bush
In French
Bleu lin Plante
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Planta de lino azul
elefante Bush
In Greek
Μπλε Λίνο Φυτών
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Planta do linho azul
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Niebieski roślin lnu
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Blue linum Planta
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Linales
Caryophyllales
Family
Linaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Linum
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
1801
1
27800
👆🏻