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Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ (Blue Fescue)

Blue Fescue 'Elijah Blue', Festuca Ovina glauca 'Elijah Blue', Festuca Ovina glauca 'Elija-blue'

Festuca Glauca 'Elijah Blue',Blue Fescue 'Elijah Blue', Festuca Ovina Glauca 'Elijah Blue', Festuca Ovina Glauca 'Elija-blue', Blue Fescue, drought tolerant grass, drought tolerant perennial
Festuca Glauca 'Elijah Blue',Blue Fescue 'Elijah Blue', Festuca Ovina Glauca 'Elijah Blue', Festuca Ovina Glauca 'Elija-blue', Blue Fescue, drought tolerant grass, drought tolerant perennial

One of the best and most colorful Blue Fescue varieties, Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ is a wonderful dwarf ornamental grass, mostly grown for its superb, evergreen, bright silver-blue foliage. Densely tufted, the foliage of finely-textured, blade-like needles forms a neat mound topped by upright flower plumes in summer. At first, the flowers are colored like the foliage before maturing to a light tan. Stunning when massed as a ground cover, Blue Fescue adds a superb color accent to the landscape all year around.

  • Aside from its foliage interest, this Blue Fescue is drought tolerant, once established, and requires low maintenance and low watering.
  • Native to southern France, it thrives in full sun, in poor, moderately fertilewell-drained soils, and typically grows in a compact mound up to 8-12 in. tall and wide (20-30 cm). A cool-season grass, this Blue Fescue is noted as the most tolerant of hot, humid summers.
  • Deer resistant!
  • A great candidate for borders, edging, mass planting as a ground coverrock gardens, cottage gardens, city gardens, or containers.
  • This plant often looks best if the flowers are sheared off.
  • Short-lived, Blue Fescue tends to die out in the center after 2-4 years. Shearing your plant in late winter often contributes to extending its life and promotes a neater appearance.
  • Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring or by division in spring

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 11
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Ornamental Grasses
Plant Family Poaceae
Genus Festuca
Common names Blue Fescue, Fescue
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 8" - 1' (20cm - 30cm)
Spread 8" - 1' (20cm - 30cm)
Spacing 10" - 12" (25cm - 30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Edging, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Festuca californica (California Fescue)
Festuca ovina (Sheep Fescue)
Festuca rubra (Red Fescue)
Festuca idahoensis (Idaho Fescue)
Festuca glauca ‘Beyond Blue’ (Blue Fescue)
Festuca glauca ‘Blaufuchs’ (Blue Fescue)

Recommended Companion Plants

Echinacea ‘Secret Pride’ (Coneflower)
Santolina chamaecyparissus (Lavender Cotton)
Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ (Purple Fountain Grass)
Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle)
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears)
Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

A Lovely Backyard Retreat with Achillea, Festuca and Grasses
A Californian Retreat
A Wonderful Summer Border Idea with Easy-to-Grow Plants
A Terrific Duo to Try: Achillea and Festuca
A Pretty Rock Garden Idea with Colorful Alpine Plants
A Lush But Water-Wise Garden
An Elegant Front Garden
A Long-Lasting and Colorful Front Garden
An Eye-Catching Succulent Garden
A Dramatic Entryway
Native Plant Alternatives to Festuca rubra (Red Fescue)
Great Ornamental Grasses for your Winter Garden
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 11
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Ornamental Grasses
Plant Family Poaceae
Genus Festuca
Common names Blue Fescue, Fescue
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 8" - 1' (20cm - 30cm)
Spread 8" - 1' (20cm - 30cm)
Spacing 10" - 12" (25cm - 30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Edging, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Festuca (Fescue)
Guides with
Festuca (Fescue)
Not sure which Festuca (Fescue) to pick?
Compare Now

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