Linum viscosum

Linum viscosum, the viscous flax, is a perennial of the Linaceae family. Its range extends from the Pyrenees and southern France to the Balkans and Asia Minor, passing through Italy and the southern Alps. It frequents dry to mesophilic grasslands, sunny edges, calcareous meadows, and open garrigues, from the plains to the lower montane level.

It forms erect, sparsely branched stems, reaching 30 to 40 cm, covered with a glandular and sticky hairiness to the touch, a distinctive feature that gives it its species name and immediately distinguishes it from all other pink flaxes. The foliage is lanceolate, quite broad for the genus, slightly glandular.

The flowers are large for a flax, a bright and clear pink, with five wide petals traversed by more intense pink veins radiating from a creamy white center. Several flowers bloom simultaneously in a loose corymb at the top of the stems. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to July.

It requires calcareous or neutral, well-drained soil, in full sun. Its glandular hairiness makes it sensitive to excess winter moisture: good drainage is essential in cultivation. It is perfectly suited to sunny rock gardens and Mediterranean or sub-Mediterranean dry gardens.