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Tufted Fescue Festuca amethystina

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
fes-TOO-kah am-eh-thiss-TEE-nah
Description

With its blue-green to blue-silver foliage and leaves rolled and thread-like, large-blue fescue forms attractive, dense evergreen tufts.   Above the foliage, small flower spikes emerge.  The spikes are green, with a pink-purple tint.   

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  This short-lived plant requires frequent division.  It is typically pest free.  Rust may affect this plant.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Klose'
    Olive green foliage
  • 'Superba'
    Intense blue-silver foliage
'Klose', 'Superba'
Tags:
#drought tolerant#ornamental grass#blue-green leaves#cool season grass#poor soils tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Klose'
    Olive green foliage
  • 'Superba'
    Intense blue-silver foliage
'Klose', 'Superba'
Tags:
#drought tolerant#ornamental grass#blue-green leaves#cool season grass#poor soils tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Festuca
    Species:
    amethystina
    Family:
    Poaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central & South East Europe to North East Turkey
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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
    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
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Small green with purple tinge inflorescence is held 2 ft. above the foliage in early summer. The stems are lender amethyst colored stalks.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    No
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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
    Problems:
    Short-lived