Festuca amethystina
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- fes-TOO-kah am-eh-thiss-TEE-nah
- Description
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Tufted Fescu is an evergreen to semi-evergreen, ornamental, cool season grass with blue-green to blue-silver foliage and rolled and thread-like leaves. This large fescue forms attractive and dense evergreen tufts. Left to its own devices, it will reach 1 1/2 to 2 feet high with a similar width. Above the foliage, small flower spikes emerge in early summer. The spikes are green, with a pink-purple tint. The genus name is Latin for a grass stalk or straw. The species name means violet-colored.
Tufted Fescu does best in full sun and well drained soil. Initially, regular and consistent watering is best, but once established, it should need little water. It will tolerate light shade, but the foliage color will suffer with shade. It will also tolerate some drought and poor soils. It will not, however, do well in poorly drained soil. Depending on the severity of winter cold, the foliage may retain some color, but clumps will turn brown in harsh winters.
Clumps will die out in the center unless divided and replanted or replaced every 2 to 3 years. You can cut back the foliage in early spring to 3 to 4 inches to rejuvenate the plants and encourage new leaf blades. You can also cut back and rejuvenate the plants if the clumps decline in hot, humid summers. The clumps do spread outward, but at a slow pace, so if use as a groundcover is desired, plant densely at 8 to 10 inches apart. Species plants will self-seed in the garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
This is a short-lived plant that requires frequent division. It is typically pest free. Rust may affect this plant. Foliage may decline in hot, humid summers. Wet soil in winter can be very harmful.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Klose'
Olive green foliage. Propagate by division. - 'Superba'
Intense blue-silver foliage
- 'Klose'
- 'Klose', 'Superba'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Klose'
Olive green foliage. Propagate by division. - 'Superba'
Intense blue-silver foliage
- 'Klose'
- 'Klose', 'Superba'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Festuca
- Species:
- amethystina
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and South East Europe to North East Turkey.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Perennial
- Turfgrass
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Creeping
- Dense
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Small green with purple tinge inflorescence is held 2 feet above the foliage in June and July.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Thin hair-like blades that grow in dense fountain-like clumps to 12” tall or more. Color of the grass ranges from blue-green to gray-blue.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are slender amethyst colored stalks that rise above the foliage in late spring to early summer.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Short-lived