The Wee Blue Blossom
The beautiful flowers that appear on the flax plants are affectionately known here as the “wee blue blossom”. A field of flax in bloom, swaying in the breeze is a breathtaking sight. A strong (but not too strong!) wind is great for strengthening the stems. This year we planted a seed variety called ‘Avian’ which has done well for us in previous years, in spite of some difficult weather conditions. This variety has been developed for textiles and grows to around a metre tall.
Northern Ireland used to be covered in flax fields. ‘The wee blue blossoms’ appeared in mid-summer to such an extent that people said it looked like the sky had fallen. We’ve been told stories of how flocks of birds sometimes landed in a flax field, thinking it was a lake!
A Day in the Life of a Flax Flower
The flax flowers are tightly closed at dawn. As the day progresses, they open to create a wonderful wash of blue in the field. Each individual flower lasts for around six to twelve hours, and then the petals drop to the ground. More flowers continue to bloom for a period of around two to three weeks. We love this exciting time in the flax growing season; the blue of the field, the delicate petals, the sounds of all the wildlife such as bees, butterflies and linnets. It’s a feast for the senses!
The colour of the flax flowers will vary depending on the cultivar. This is an interesting heritage variety we have grown. It’s called ‘Stormont Motley’ and has both blue and white flowers!
A Symbol of the Linen Industry
Flax has played such an important role in Northern Ireland’s agricultural and industrial heritage that the “wee blue blossoms” can still be seen today in many places. Six blue flax stems in bloom feature in the logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, Belfast. Each represents one of the six counties of Northern Ireland. In another nod to the flax flower, the furnishings of the Assembly Chamber are blue.
Walk around Belfast city centre and you may notice flax flowers decorating some of the buildings. Once a linen warehouse, the Linen Hall Library is situated opposite the imposing City Hall in the centre of Belfast. Look up and you’ll see flax flowers carved in stone above the front door. More wee blue blossoms can be spotted throughout the Belfast Harbour Commissioners Office; in the carpet, in the railings of the main stairwell and in a number of the architraves.
You can see lots more photos of the wee blue blossoms in our gallery. Or even better, book for an open day to come and see this wonderful sight in person!