Linum Grandiflorum Bright Eyes

Name: Linum Grandiflorum Bright Eyes
Brand: Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden
SKU: LIN-GBE
Price: 2.20 GBP
Availability: InStock

£2.20

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Linum 'Bright Eyes' Seeds

'Bright Eyes' is a stunning variety of annual Flax that looks like it has been painted by hand. It produces masses of wide, saucer-shaped flowers with glistening, satin-white petals. In the centre of each bloom sits a striking ring of carmine-red, creating a beautiful "eye" that draws pollinators in.

This is a plant of movement. Standing on slender, wiry stems (approx 45cm), it sways and shimmers in the slightest breeze. It is the perfect antidote to heavy, blocky bedding plants, adding a light, airy, meadow-like feel to borders and containers. It is incredibly easy to grow, flowering in just a few months from sowing.

🌿 Understanding the Plant

Linum 'Bright Eyes' is a Hardy Annual.

Unlike the blue Perennial Flax (*Linum perenne*), this variety completes its life cycle in one season. It is designed for speed and flower power.

The "Day Flower": Like many flax varieties, the individual flowers last only a day, opening wide in the morning sun. However, the plant produces such a huge number of buds that it opens a fresh flush every single day for weeks on end.

🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow

This is a classic "scatter and grow" plant.

Germination:
Sow directly outdoors from March to May, or in Autumn (Sept) for early flowers next year. Scatter seeds thinly onto raked soil and cover lightly. Germination takes 14-21 days.

Where to Sow:
They demand full sun. If planted in shade, the flowers will refuse to open. They thrive in average, well-drained soil and are excellent for dry banks or gravel gardens.

Care While Growing:
No transplanting: Flax has a taproot and hates being moved. Always sow it where you want it to flower, or use root trainers if starting indoors.
Support: In very windy gardens, twigs placed among the plants will help support the slender stems.

📋 Plant Specifications

Latin Name	Linum grandiflorum
Common Name	Flax 'Bright Eyes'
Hardiness	H3 (Hardy Annual)
Light Required	Full Sun ☀️
Height	↕️ 40cm - 50cm
Spread	↔️ 20cm
Spacing	🌱 15cm apart (or scatter)
Great for	🐝 Pollinators 🌾 Meadow Style 🧱 Filling Gaps 🏺 Containers
Seed Count	Approx. 250 seeds per packet

🤝 Perfect Garden Companions

The red eye of 'Bright Eyes' pairs beautifully with dark maroon or contrasting blue flowers:

⚫ Cornflower 'Black Ball': The Colour Echo. The deep maroon-chocolate of the Cornflower picks up the red centre of the Linum perfectly. It’s a sophisticated, moody combination.
🏰 Larkspur 'Giant Hyacinth Mix': Height & Shape. The tall, rigid spikes of Larkspur provide a strong backdrop for the lower, bushy, swaying habit of the Flax.

📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow directly outdoors in spring. Flowers mid-summer to early autumn.

Month	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Sow Outdoors			🟢	🟢	🟢				🟢
Flowers						🌸	🌸	🌸	🌸

⚠️ Afternoon Nap
Flax flowers are ephemeral—they open in the morning sun and often drop their petals by late afternoon. Don't panic! A fresh flush of new buds will open to replace them the very next morning.