Blue fescue

Festuca glauca

Compact evergreen fescue grass forming neat domed tussocks of intensely silver-blue narrow needle-like foliage. The classic small foliage-blue ornamental grass for the front of the border and edging.

Hardiness ratings

Blue fescue hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 4–8 −34.4 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 4–8 −29 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–5 −15 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Plant as edging, in groups in gravel gardens, or in containers — neat dome habit and silver-blue foliage colour are the defining features
  • Comb out dead foliage in spring rather than cutting back hard — evergreen tussocks resent severe cutting
  • Short-lived — divide and replant every 3–4 years to maintain the strong blue colour
  • Drought tolerant once established

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Blue fescue against your zones

Reference

Blue fescue on Wikipedia