Linum suffruticosum

Sub-shrub of the Linaceae family, Linum suffruticosum is a western Mediterranean species, mainly found in Spain, southern France, and the Maghreb. It colonizes scrublands, dry grasslands, limestone hillsides, and well-exposed rocky terrains, often on poor and skeletal substrates, from the plains to the lower mountain level.

Its habit is characteristic: it forms dense, hemispherical to rounded clumps, very branched from the base, reaching 20 to 40 cm in height and spreading widely in width. The woody stems at the base bear very narrow, almost needle-like, dense and persistent foliage, of a glaucous green, giving the plant an almost heath-like appearance outside of flowering. This particular foliage texture is one of the most immediately recognizable traits of the species.

The flowers are white, with five broadly oval petals, slightly veined, with a small discreet purplish-brown center. The flower buds are bright yellow, creating a striking contrast with the whiteness of the open flowers. In full bloom, the entire clump disappears under a remarkable dense immaculate mantle. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to June.

It requires absolute full sun, a very well-drained soil, preferably limestone, and perfectly withstands the most intense summer drought. It is not very hardy under prolonged cold and wet winters, and fears excess moisture more than frost.