| Description | Fescue (Festuca) This section contains general information that will pertain to growing the Blue Fescues. Most but not all are Festuca glauca. |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials Hardy, Site author's observations, Short lived perennials |
| Hardiness Zone | 4(5) |
| Sunlight | best in full to get the bluest blues |
| Moisture | average, tolerates dry |
| Soil & Site | average, dry once established |
| Temperature | blue intensifies in cooler temperatures |
| Flowers | terminal panicles, turn a buff color, borne on wispy flower spikes, not highly ornamental |
| Leaves | all the cultivars have glaucous blue, thin grass-like leaves, some cultivars are darker and some more glaucous (powder blue), color will last way into the fall, they are a knock out in the fall garden, cold weather seems to intensify the foliage |
| Stems | clump forming |
| Roots | fibrous |
| Dimensions | in zone #5 where I garden, 12 by 12 inches is a good starting point (not including flower scape), probably larger in warmer zones, forms a dome shaped tuft, look best in groups |
| Maintenance | Cut of seed heads are the seeds will fall to the soil and germinate. Although I have a few plants that have lasted for many years, they seem to die out in the center and need dividing to maintain vigor. |
| Propagation | easy by division, the clumps can be pulled apart into small separate little plants and rooted if you need a lot, the straight species Festuca glauca can be grown from seed but the cultivars will not come true from seed and must be vegetatively by division |
| Native Site | Originally native to France. |
| Misc Facts | Originally described by French naturalist Dominique Villars. Species name glaucus refers to the pale blue-grey foliage. AKA: Blue Fescue, Blue Mountain Grass, Grey Fescue. |
| Author's Notes | It takes a bit of work to keep this plant growing. A planting in groups of 3-5 or more can be impressive. I have used lots of these plants in gardens, grew many at my nursery and wouldn't classify them has hardy and easy to grow has Daylily or Hosta. |
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