Thunderchild Flowering Crab vs Blue Flax - TreeTime.ca

Thunderchild Flowering Crab vs Blue Flax

Malus x adstringens Thunderchild

Linum lewisii

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Thunderchild Flowering Crab
Blue Flax

Thunderchild Flowering Crab is a hybrid crab apple known for its attractive and fragrant dark pink blossoms and deep purple mature leaves.

Tree farmers will find this hybrid appealing as a pollinator for other apples, while home growers will enjoy the red pome's ability to attract flocks of Cedar Waxwings in the early spring.

This species is reportedly resistant to fireblight.

Blue Flax is a native perennial wildflower known for its blue to violet flowers. Each flower lasts just a single day, but new blooms appear continuously, providing weeks of colour. This extended flowering period provides a reliable display from late spring into summer and attracts a variety of pollinators.

They can self-seed readily, so removing spent blooms helps manage their spread. Birds feed on the seeds, and when cooked, they are edible and are described as having a mild, nutty flavour. The plant grows in loose clumps with slender stems and fine foliage. Young plants are leafy, but as they mature, most leaves are shed.

Blue Flax grows well in a wide range of soils, including poor or sandy conditions, and is drought-tolerant once established. The deep root system helps to stabilize soil and prevent erosion. They are well-suited for pollinator gardens, restoration, naturalization, and xeriscaping projects.

Thunderchild Flowering Crab Quick Facts

Blue Flax Quick Facts

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Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Growth form: upright, rounded, clump-forming
Spreading: seeds - high
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: toxic to some animals, raw seed toxic
Foliage: dark purple leaves
Fall colour: dark red
Flowers: dark pink blossoms
Flowers: pale to deep blue-violet
Bloom time: late spring to mid summer
Fruit: small red pomes that hang through the winter
Berries: small red pomes that hang through the winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, YT, NT, NU
Other Names: lewis flax, lewis wild blue flax, prairie flax, wild blue flax