Festuca glauca Beyond Blue (Blue Fescue)

Festuca glauca ‘Beyond Blue’ (Blue Fescue) is a compact, mound-forming, semi-evergreen ornamental grass mostly grown for its intense powder blue foliage that will catch your eye. Unlike most Blue Fescues, Beyond Blue retains its blue color over the summer.

Festuca glauca 'Beyond Blue' (Blue Fescue) is a compact, mound-forming, semi-evergreen ornamental grass mostly grown for its intense powder blue foliage that will catch your eye. Unlike most Blue Fescues, Beyond Blue retains its blue color over the summer. 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 light tan. Stunning when massed as a ground cover, Blue Fescue adds a superb color accent to the landscape all year around in mild winter areas. Aside from its foliage interest, Blue Fescue tolerates cold, heat, humidity, low water, poor soils and is deer resistant.

  • Grows up to 9-12 in. tall (22-30 cm) and 18 in. wide (45 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun in poor, moderately fertile, well-drained soils. Part shade is appreciated in hot summer climates. Provide good air circulation in humid areas.
  • A great candidate for borders, edging, in 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 extend its life and promotes a neater appearance.
  • Propagate by division in spring

Requirements

Hardiness 4
– 10

Heat Zones 1
– 8

Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 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 Festuca – Fescues
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)FallWinter
Height 9"
– 1'
(22cm
– 30cm)
Spread 1'
– 2'
(30cm
– 60cm)
Spacing 18″ (45cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Semi-Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Ground Covers, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden