It is a slender herbaceous plant growing to 80 centimetres (31+1⁄2 inches) tall, with spirally arranged narrow lanceolate leaves 1–3 cm (1⁄2–1+1⁄4 in) long.

[3][4][5][6] The flowers open in the morning and fade, dropping their petals by noon on hot, sunny days.

[8] The plant is native to western North America from Alaska south to Baja California, and from the Pacific Coast east to the Mississippi River.

[9] It grows on ridges and dry slopes, from sea level in the north up to 11,000 feet (3,400 metres) in the Sierra Nevada.

[10][11][3] Blue flax is a durable wildflower in garden conditions, never becoming overly aggressive towards other plants.