Native to Tasmania and southeastern Australia, it needs a hot climate to be grown outdoors year-round.
Alternatively, grow it as a houseplant or as a potted plant and overwinter it indoors.
This fast-growing plant is often used as a groundcover or border plant.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Despite its common name, flax lily is primarily grown for its foliage.
The light-blue flowers are very small and not showy.
Flax lily rarely blooms when grown as a houseplant.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Plant flax lily in the spring or fall.
If your summers are warm to moderately hot, plant it in partial shade.
Soil
The soil should be well-draining.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Water
Until the plant is established, water it just enough to keep the soil moderately moist.
Flax lily tolerates drought well once it is mature.
If the plant begins to droop or turn brown, cut back on the water.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Prune the lilies back to the crown during the fall when the foliage has begun to turn brown.
Propagating Flax Lily
Flax lily slowly spreads in a clumping habit through rhizomes.
Dividing the plant is the easiest way to propagate it.
Potting and Repotting Flax Lily
Flax lily does very well in containers.
When initially potting flax lily, choose a pot that has excellent drainage and lets moisture evaporate.
Good potting soil is plenty for flax lily to thrive, as long as it remains loose and well-drained.
Overwintering
Flax lily doesn’t need winter protection when grown in USDA Zones 9-11.
Expect the foliage to die back in winter and spring back when the temperatures warm up.
Flax lily grown in a container is easy to overwinter, as you simply bring it indoors.
Reduce the water during the dormancy period.
Bloom Months
Flax lily normally blooms in the summer months of June, July and August.
What Does Flax Lily’s Flowers Look and Smell Like?
The flowers bloom in panicles on stalks that jut up over the foliage.
They are usually blue (with striking yellow stamens) but occasionally white.
The flowers are fragrant with a sweet, earthy scent and are succeeded by shiny, blue berries.
Leaf rust appears as orange spots or stripes on the foliage.
Drooping Foliage
Drooping or browning foliage is a sign that part of the soil is too soggy.
Flax lilies require well-draining soil and don’t tolerate standing water.
Flax lily loves dappled shade, so place it in an indoor area where it will receive indirect light.
The flax lily, on the other hand, is a purely ornamental plant.
Flax Lily.University of Florida.
Texas Master Gardeners, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
