Scarlet Flax Seeds

Scarlet Flax seeds produce masses of 1-inch crimson red flowers. Plants bloom prolifically from mid-summer through fall. Hardy and drought-tolerant, Scarlet Flax can tolerate heat, poor soil, and partial shade. Scarlet Flax goes from seed to flower in just 55 days! Seeds can be sown thickly for a tall, dense garden border or interplanted with other flowers. Plants grow between 1-3’ tall.

Planting by Zones

Zones 9-10

• Flax is a warm-season crop that can be grown year-round in mild areas. In Zones 9 and 10, broadcast seeds in the cool of fall to establish over the winter or plant in early spring. Gorgeous 1″ scarlet flowers bloom mid-summer through fall. 

Zones 2-8

• Broadcast seeds in mid to late spring. Plants bloom from early to mid-spring.

Planting Flax Seeds

• Flax seeds are best planted by broadcasting seed into a full sun location with well-drained soil. Part shade is tolerated.
• Broadcast seed into debris-free, well-worked soil that has been deeply watered. Cover with 1/4″ of finely sifted soil.
• Seeds must remain moist to germinate evenly and quickly. 

Growing Flax 

• Flax is easy to grow. It can be grown with little care in average to poor soils.
• Mulch heavily around your plants to help with weed suppression and moisture retention. 
• Scarlet Flax is an annual plant that reseeds easily.

Succession Planting Flax

• Succession plant every 21 days.

Growing Flax in Containers

• Flax can be grown in a container. Make sure your container is at least 10″ deep. Keep in mind containers will dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture. 

Harvesting Flax  

• Scarlet Flax blooms are short-lived but are quickly replaced by more flowers. Flowers are best left in the garden to be enjoyed by yourself and pollinators.

Southern California Pro-tips

• In areas of Zones 9 and 10, flax is an easy crop to grow.
• Plant in full to part-sun during warm seasons and in the sunniest spots during cool seasons.
• During our hottest months of August, September, and October, plants can suffer from the heat. During this time, using shade cloth can help protect the plants from extreme heat. 

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Flax can be sown thickly for a tall, dense 12″ garden border or interplanted with other flowers for a wild look. You can plant flax among cosmos, California orange poppy, and our Southwest wildflower seed mix for a meadowy feel. Scarlet Flax blooms later in the season than Blue Flax which begins to bloom in early spring. Plant both for different colored flowers from spring through fall. Flax is effective for erosion control and also attracts wild birds and pollinators.  

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics!
• Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube page!
• Having pest issues? Check out in-depth information on garden pests at the UC Integrated Pest Management site.

Fill your garden with pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects like bees, moths, and butterflies. Learn more in our Pollinator Plants article.