Medium Flax Plant Care
Linum medium (Planch.) Britton
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Linum medium, common name stiff yellow flax, is a species of Linum (flax) native to eastern North America. It is found as far west as Texas and Wisconsin, east to the Atlantic Ocean, north to Ontario and Maine, and south to southern Florida.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Medium Flax?
Water Medium Flax every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Medium Flax Native To?
What Is the Medium Flax?
Medium Flax (Linum medium) belongs to the Linaceae family within the Linum genus. Medium Flax is native to eastern North America.
Medium Flax displays an upright, branching herb growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Medium Flax produces delicate five-petaled flowers in shades of blue, pink, or white.
Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Medium Flax?
Linum medium requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Medium Flax Need?
Medium Flax thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Medium Flax Prefer?
Linum medium grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Medium Flax prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Medium Flax?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Medium Flax to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Medium Flax?
Feed Medium Flax every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Medium Flax?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Medium Flax?
Medium Flax can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to pale flax plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Medium Flax Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Medium Flax, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Medium Flax?
Medium Flax is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Medium Flax Need?
Medium Flax grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Medium Flax is native to eastern North America. In cooler regions, grow Medium Flax as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Medium Flax is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Linum genus — compare its care with other Linum species on PlantoScan.
Linum is part of the Linaceae plant family — browse all Linaceae genera and species.
Medium Flax thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Linum Species
Other Linum species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Linum medium (Planch.) Britton, family Linaceae (first published in Ill. Fl. N. U.S. 2: 349 (1897)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Medium Flax, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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