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Key characteristics

Family: Poaceae
Height: 6 to 12 inches
Width: 12 to 18 inches
Flower color: Pale green to blue-tinged
Foliage color: Silver-blue to blue-gray
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Full sun
Water: Low; prefers well-drained, dry to medium soil; drought-tolerant once established
Maintenance: Low; clumps may require division every 2 to 3 years to maintain vigor
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 8
Wildlife: Attracts bees

Groundcovers

Festuca glauca

Blue Fescue

Festuca glauca is a perennial grass native to regions including France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. This ornamental grass is distinguished by its fine-textured, needle-like leaves that form dense, cushion-like tufts. In late spring to early summer, it produces inconspicuous greenish flowers with a purple tinge, borne in terminal panicles above the foliage.

Blue fescue is well-suited for full sun exposure and thrives in dry to medium soil conditions.

Light

Full sun

Water

Low; prefers well-drained, dry to medium soil; drought-tolerant once established

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Rock Gardens
Mediterranean Gardens
Borders
Waterwise Gardens

Companion plants

Lavender · Russian sage · Stonecrops · California lilacs · Candytuft · Red hot poker

Design tip

Repeat evenly spaced clumps throughout sunny borders to establish rhythm and reinforce the garden's structural framework. Pair with flowering perennials of contrasting form to highlight the grass's fine texture while maintaining visual interest from spring through winter.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)