Blue fescue (Festuca glauca)

The Festuca glauca (Blue fescue) is a clump-forming ornamental grass known for its glaucous, finely-textured, blue-gray foliage. It belongs to the same family of grasses and bamboos. Its size is low, about 15 to 25 cm high and its foliage is very decorative. The leaves are linear, arched and long, about 20 cm long of a blue-gray. In the summer the blue fescue produces elongated inflorescences, with small flowers, with no ornamental value.

Plant profile

Cultivars differ on size, the color of the leaves and the density of the clumps. Most of them have been developed in Germany, such as ‘Auslese’, ‘Azurit’, ‘Blaufink’, ‘Blaufuchs’, ‘Blauglut’, ‘Blauspatz’, ‘Boulder Blue’, ‘Caesia’, ‘Daeumling’, ‘Elijah Blue’, ‘Euchre’, ‘Golden Toupee’, ‘Harz’, ‘Meerblau’, ‘Seeigel’, ‘Silberreiher’ and ‘Uchte’.

The combination of the bluish coloration with a fine and elegant texture of this grass, makes it very popular in landscape projects. It is suitable for lining and for ground cover. Use these beautiful clumps to create contrasts with the flooring and other plants with different colors. It stands out when planted alone or in groups scattered in stone and arid gardens. It can be planted on the coast because it tolerates well the salinity of the air and soil.

How to plant

It should be cultivated under full sun or half shade, in fertile soil, drainable and enriched with organic matter. Appreciates the mild climate and it is quite resistant to drought periods. Over time the center of the clump tends to die. In these cases, a division of the clumps and replanting them will return the beauty and vigor.

Propagation

It can be multiplied by seeds but the easiest way is by division of clumps in winter.