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Festuca glauca 'Boulder Blue' (Blue fescue, Gray fescue)

Festuca glauca 'Boulder Blue' Photo/Illustration: Steve Aitken

(Based on 1 user review)

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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Botanical Name: Festuca glauca 'Boulder Blue' fess-TOO-kah GLOK-ah Common Name: Blue fescue, Gray fescue Genus: Festuca
Regarded by some as the bluest blue fescue, this plant forms compact, cascading mounds of foot-tall, intensely blue, narrow leaves that are attractive in all seasons. Blooms are generally secondary to the foliage, but this cultivar blooms more heavily than most, with spikelets in summer. This cultivar is long-lived and very hardy. Grow in groups in a border or rock garden, or as a groundcover. 
Noteworthy characteristics: Foliage is very blue. Drought and heat tolerant.
Care: Tolerant of drought, heat, and poor soil. Grow in dry, well-drained soil of poor to moderate fertility in full sun. Divide every few years.
Propagation: Divide in spring, or sow seed in a cold frame in spring, fall, or winter.
Problems: Ergot, powdery mildew, rust, smut, brown patch, leaf spot, net blotch, pink snow mold, anthracnose, eye spot, and summer blight can affect plants.
Height 6 in. to 12 in.
Spread 6 in. to 12 in.
Growth Habit Clumps
Growth Pace Moderate Grower
Light Full Sun Only
Moisture Dry
Maintenance Low
Characteristics Showy Foliage
Bloom Time Early Summer; Summer
Foliage Color Colorful/Burgundy Foliage
Flower Color Blue Flower; Green Flower
Uses Beds and Borders, Ground Covers
Style Rock Garden
Seasonal Interest Winter Interest, Spring Interest, Summer Interest, Fall Interest
Type Grasses

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