About
A vibrant, perennial grass to around 70cm in height, with slender, blue-green foliage which develops copper-red tips in the autumn. Fiery red stems produce feather-like golden flowers in summer.
About the genus
Festuca can be herbaceous or evergreen, rhizomatous grasses with linear, often strikingly coloured, leaves, and dense or lax panicles of brownish flowers in summer
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeGrass Like
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Wildflower meadow
Care notes
CultivationGrow in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.. See ornamental grasses cultivation advice
PruningComb out dead foliage and trim damaged parts of older leaves in spring. For turf or lawns, mow regularly when actively growing or leave unmown for a loose meadow-like appearance
PropagationPropagate by seed from autumn to spring or by division of clumps in spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free