Overview
Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR is a plant with a clump-forming, tufted, compact, spreading habit in the genus Festuca, part of the Poaceae family, with evergreen, blue-green, fine-textured foliage. Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. Suggested uses include borders, containers, edging, rock gardens and gravel gardens.
About
Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR is a compact, clump-forming red fescue with fine-textured blue-green evergreen foliage. It forms tufted mounds that spread modestly, making a low, ordered grass for edging and containers. Plant in full sun on chalk, loam or sand that is moist but well-drained and on south-, east- or west-facing sites. Hardy to H5, it flowers June to August and suits borders, rock and gravel gardens.
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
In the garden
A member of the grass family Poaceae and of the Festuca genus, Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR presents as a compact, tufted fescue that keeps a fine, blue-green leaf through the seasons. The habit is clump-forming yet spreading enough to knit together a low sward without becoming invasive, making it distinct from coarser turfing grasses. Place 'Mellori'PBR in full sun where the soil is moist but well-drained; it adapts to chalk, loam or sandy substrates and performs across acid, alkaline and neutral pH. The plant tolerates both exposed and sheltered positions and carries an H5 hardiness rating — hardy for outdoor planting in UK gardens. Flowering occurs from June to August, producing the typical grass inflorescences associated with fescues. Use this cultivar where a neat, fine-textured grass is required: short borders, container displays, edging lines, rock gardens and gravel areas all suit its scale and form. Its evergreen, fine foliage holds shape through winter, so leave the tussocks intact; their dense leaf texture helps retain a clear edge into spring where bulbs or low perennials are underplanted.
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
- Aspect
- South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR size, habit and characteristics
- Habit
- Clump-forming, Tufted, Compact, Spreading
- Foliage
- Evergreen, Blue-green, Fine-textured
- Suggested uses
- Borders, Containers, Edging, Rock gardens, Gravel gardens
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR
- Propagation
- Seed, Division
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR?
Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR prefers full sun. It suits exposed and sheltered positions.
What soil does Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR need?
Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR 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.
Is Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR hardy in the UK?
Festuca rubra 'Mellori'PBR 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 rubra 'Mellori'PBR?
Seed, Division.