Flowers of bright blue to blue-violet or occasionally white, have deeper blue radiating from the center, and yellow stamens. Short-lived flowers up open during the early morning and close by noon. Stems appear to be slender and fragile, but are actually rather fibrous and tough and lean at somewhat of an angle. Each stem produces several flowers, blooming from the bottom upward. The seeds are produced on the lower flowers while those above continue to bloom. Grows in full sun, and dry conditions, with infertile soil containing sand, clay, or rocky material. Self-seeding and tends to move around in the garden. Xerces classifies native blue flax as being of special value to native bees. The non-native blue flax tends to be taller and more upright than the native.