Variety field guide
What to expect from Scarlet Flax
Scarlet Flax seeds produce red bloom on 19–24 in upright/erect plants. Annual growth and Spring/Summer bloom make it useful for borders, cut flowers, containers or meadow-style planting, pollinator value, and seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Scarlet Flax seeds produce red bloom on 19–24 in upright/erect plants. Annual growth and Spring/Summer bloom make it useful for borders, cut flowers, containers or meadow-style planting, pollinator value, and seed saving.
About Scarlet Flax
Scarlet Flax is an annual flowering plant with red color, 19–24 in mature height or spread, and an upright/erect habit. Harvest form or size: Flower or head form characteristic of Scarlet Flax; mature plant 19–24 in. Botanically it is Linum grandiflorum. Maturity or first bloom: 60-69 Days; germination: 7-14 Days at 60–75 °F. Best for borders, cut flowers, containers or meadow-style planting, pollinator value, and seed saving. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
History and provenance
This named flower is part of the long seed-catalog tradition of selecting annuals for color, stature, bloom form, cutting, edging, containers, or meadow use. Where no reliable breeder or release record is available, the cultivar name is retained without adding a precise date, person, or provenance story. A complete public breeder or release record for the named Scarlet Flax strain has not been located. The cultivar name is retained, but no person, community, date, or place of origin is assigned without reliable documentation. Scarlet Flax Seeds produce brilliant red flowers that bring striking color and delicate texture to garden beds, borders, and wildflower plantings. This vibrant annual, Linum grandiflorum var. rubrum, is known for its bright scarlet blooms that appear above fine, slender foliage, creating a light and airy display that moves beautifully in the breeze. Plants grown from Scarlet Flax Seeds develop upright stems with narrow blue-green leaves and masses of open, five-petaled flowers that bloom in shades of intense red. Each flower lasts only a short time, but the plants continuously produce new blossoms over several weeks, creating a steady display of color throughout the blooming period.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Linum grandiflorum |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 60-69 Days |
| Germination | 7-14 Days at 60–75 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/4 in |
| Plant height / spread | 19–24 in |
| Growth habit | Upright/Erect |
| Spacing | 8 in between plants; 15 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Sandy loam; pH 6.5–7.0 |
| Water | Drought tolerant |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Scarlet Flax from seed
How to grow Scarlet Flax
Botanical identity: Linum grandiflorum. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1/4 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 60–75 °F. Expected emergence: 7-14 Days. Use clean seed-starting conditions, the listed depth and temperature, and steady moisture without saturation.
Plant during Spring. Space plants 8 in apart with 15 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, drought tolerant water, and sandy loam near pH 6.5–7.0. Support: No-Support.
Garden performance and care
For a longer display of Scarlet Flax, remove spent blooms unless seed is being saved. Give the plant its listed spacing, cut flowers with clean tools, and leave selected heads to mature fully for seed. Expected emergence is 7-14 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is 60-69 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Scarlet Flax is suited to borders, cut flowers, containers or meadow-style planting, pollinator value, and seed saving. Its red flowers and 19–24 in stature help determine whether it belongs in a border, cutting row, container, meadow edge, or restoration-style planting. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
Saving seed
Choose several healthy, true-to-type plants rather than saving from one unusually early or large individual. Allow seed structures to mature fully beyond the ornamental stage, harvest in dry weather, and finish drying under cover. Clean out chaff and damaged seed, keep the lot labeled through every step, record isolation and selection, and store fully dry seed in a cool, dark, low-humidity place. Confirm the species pollination system before promising varietal purity.
Common problems
Common concerns: damping-off from saturated media; poor emergence from wrong temperature or depth; leggy seedlings from weak light; crowding and weak airflow; lodging in wind or rain; feeding damage from slugs, caterpillars, beetles, or mammals; foliar disease under prolonged leaf wetness. Management: use clean media, the sowing depth and temperature, strong light, appropriate thinning, and morning irrigation at soil level. Match support to plant height before wind becomes a problem. Inspect regularly and use the least disruptive control appropriate to the pest, plant, and pollinator setting. Remove diseased debris and rotate annual flower beds where recurring disease is severe.
Frequently asked questions
When is Scarlet Flax ready?
60-69 Days from sowing to the primary bloom or market stage used for the listed maturity range
How long does germination take?
Expect 7-14 Days near 60–75 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 19–24 in with an upright/erect habit. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container?
Well suited to containers when drainage, spacing, light, and moisture are maintained
How is it used?
Primary role: Borders, cut flowers, containers or meadow-style planting, pollinator value, and seed saving. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count:200 seeds
