Linum lewisii var. lewisii
Lewis' flax
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Linaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Linum lewisii var. lewisii (Lewis' flax) is a native California subshrub in the Linaceae family, recognized by native status and head-like stigmas.
Lewis' flax is a California native perennial found in the California Floristic Province, northern Mojave Desert, Western and Inyo Mountains in generally dry open mountain and foothill areas at elevations to 3,660 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces blue flowers occasionally white or mottled, with delicate petals 6 to 15 millimeters long in obovate shapes. Growing with slender stems 5 to 80 centimeters tall, it features a glabrous (smooth) appearance with no stem hair. Its leaves are narrow and linear to lanceolate, measuring 10 to 20 millimeters long and appearing smooth and glabrous. The fruit develops into small 5 to 6 millimeter wide segments containing dark brown to black seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; native status and head-like stigmas are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally dry open areas in mountains, foothills
Elevation: < 3660 m
California counties: Lassen, San Bernardino, Calaveras, Inyo, San Diego, Mono, Siskiyou, Kern, Riverside, Placer, Amador, Plumas, Butte, Modoc, Trinity, Lake, Alpine, Shasta, Sierra, Tuolumne, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Humboldt, Nevada, San Benito
Outside California: to Alaska, Mississippi Valley
Bloom period
Linum lewisii var. lewisii blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Nemophila: Linum has 5 separate styles; Nemophila has 1-2 styles.; vs Leptosiphon: Linum has 5 styles and no petal tube; Leptosiphon has 3 styles and fused petals forming a tube.; vs Pelargonium: Linum has 5 equal styles and radial flowers; Pelargonium has fused styles and bilateral flowers.; vs Papaver: Linum has 5 distinct styles; Papaver has a disc-like stigma with no separate styles.; vs Gilia: Linum has 5 separate styles; Gilia has 3 styles and tubular fused petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Linum lewisii var. lewisii native to California?
Yes. Linum lewisii var. lewisii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Linum lewisii var. lewisii bloom?
Linum lewisii var. lewisii blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Linum lewisii var. lewisii grow?
Linum lewisii var. lewisii occurs in Lassen, San Bernardino, Calaveras, Inyo, San Diego, Mono, Siskiyou, Kern and other counties, at elevations of < 3660 m.
What plant family does Linum lewisii var. lewisii belong to?
Linum lewisii var. lewisii is in the Linaceae family, genus Linum.
What habitat does Linum lewisii var. lewisii grow in?
Linum lewisii var. lewisii grows in Generally dry open areas in mountains, foothills.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.