Flax is an annual plant that has one main stem. At low plant populations, branching at the base similar to tillers in a cereal grain is seen.
The stems terminate in a multi-branched inflorescence that bears blue to white flowers. Flax grows to a height of about 24-36 inches. The plant has a tap root, which may penetrate to 40 inches if growing conditions are good.
It requires a 50-day vegetative period, 25-day flowering period, and about 35 days to mature. In years when moisture is available the maturation period may extend until a hard frost kills the crop. In a wet fall new flowers are often observed until frost.
Flax is a self pollinated crop. Seed is produced in a boll or capsule. A complete boll can have 10 seeds, but most bolls will have fewer, averaging around six seeds.
