The flaxes range from dwarf alpines to moderately tall herbs (and even a shrub), and include some excellent garden plants. The flared conical flowers are showy, and come in a range of colours, including a splendid light blue.

Linum perenne is a deer-resistant plant, also known as Blue Flax, and blooms profusely over the summer months. It has slender stems and lots of the light blue, five-petalled flowers. It looks best grown en masse, in rock gardens, borders or in naturalised plantings.