About
Compact, clump-forming, perennial grass forming clumps of grey-green linear leaves and upright stems bearing root-producing vegetative growths (mid to fresh green plantlets) produced from within grey-green spikelets in summer and autumn.
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
HabitTufted, Clump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden
Care notes
CultivationGrow in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Clumps tend to die out in the middle, so ideally divide every three years. See ornamental grasses cultivation advice
PruningTidy up in spring by combing any dead foliage out of the middle of plant
PropagationPropagate by plantlets or by division in spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free