Koeleria glauca Play pronunciation

Large blue hairgrass is a cool-season, slow-growing, low-maintenance, ornamental grass native to Europe and Mongolia and a member of the grass family (Poaceae). This grass is a short-lived perennial and forms dense, round clumps of thin bluish-green leaves that grow 12 inches tall and equally wide. Silver-green panicles of flowers appear in May and mature to an attractive tan at mid-summer. The flowers rise on stems 6 to 12 inches above the foliage. The genus name Koeleria honors George Ludwig Koeler, a German botanist in the late 1700s. The specific epithet glauca means whitish coating.

This cool-season grass prefers full sun and medium moist to dry, well-drained, sandy soils. It is intolerant of shade, clay soils, or wet soils; however, it is drought-, dry-soil-, and urban-conditions-tolerant. Large blue hair grass grows actively during the cool seasons, but it may go partially dormant in hot weather. In early April, mow the grass to ground level before the new growth begins. Propagate by sowing seeds in the spring or fall and by division in the spring.

To add texture, interest, and color to your landscape, consider large blue hairgrass as a ground cover, along walkways, border edges, or in rock gardens.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:   No serious insect or disease problems. This short-lived grass may only last 2 or 3 years, especially if planted in a moist, fertile area.