Overview
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' is a tufted grass like in the genus Festuca, part of the Poaceae family, with evergreen foliage. It typically grows around 0.1-0.5 metres tall and 0.1-0.5 metres wide, reaching full size in around 2-5 years. Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. It is low maintenance. Suggested uses include architectural, city and courtyard gardens, coastal, cottage and informal garden, gravel garden, patio and container plants, rock garden, low maintenance, bedding, flower borders and beds and garden edging.
About
Festuca glauca, commonly known as blue fescue, is a species of flowering plant in the grass family, Poaceae. It is a commonly cultivated evergreen or semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial.
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Festuca glauca
About the genus
Festuca (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae. They are evergreen, herbaceous, or perennial, tufted grasses with a height range of 10–200 cm (4–79 in) and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. The genus is closely related to ryegrass (Lolium), and recent evidence from phylogenetic studies using DNA sequencing of plant mitochondrial DNA shows that the genus lacks monophyly.
Wikipedia contributors, "Festuca", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Festuca
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Festuca
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- West-facing, East-facing, South-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Grass Like
- Habit
- Tufted
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants, Rock garden, Low Maintenance, Bedding, Flower borders and beds, Garden edging
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'
- Propagation
- Seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring, Division in spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'?
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' prefers full sun. It suits exposed and sheltered positions.
What soil does Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' need?
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including chalk, loam and sand. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained to well-drained.
How big does Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' grow?
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' reaches a height of 0.1-0.5 metres and a spread of 0.1-0.5 metres. It takes around 2-5 years to reach full size.
Is Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' hardy in the UK?
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' has an RHS hardiness rating of H5, meaning it is hardy in most of the UK, tolerating -15 to -10°C.
How do I propagate Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'?
Seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring, Division in spring.
