The plant is endemic to the Mediterranean region, as well as native to Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Crimea, Albania, Portugal, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Madeira, the Canary Islands, the Transcaucasus, Saudi Arabia (Asir), Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, and northwest India.

It features highly in classical Hebrew and Greek literature, owing principally to its cultivation for its plant fiber, linen, but also for its edible seeds and culinary foliage.

The fruit is a symmetrical drum-shaped capsule, remaining dry as it rests closely against the mother plant for many months, until the seeds therein gradually scatter.

According to the Mishnah (Baba Kama 10:9), in 2nd-century Palestine, women were the primary sellers of wool in Judea, while they sold garments of flax in Galilee.

Likewise, the inhabitants of Arbel (now Khirbet Irbid) were also renowned for making linen garments, but these were made of a much thicker weave and were cheaper to buy, and they would normally last longer.

In ancient times, the green sprouts and tender leaves of flax (Linum strictum) were served in a hot dish of kūtaḥ (consisting of milk whey, stale bread crumbs, vinegar, and salt), for added flavour.