- Festuca glauca
Taxobox
name = blue fescue
image_width = 250px
image_caption = Plant
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Liliopsida
ordo =Poales
familia =Poaceae
genus = "Festuca "
species = "F. glauca"
binomial = "Festuca glauca""Festuca glauca" (blue fescue) is a
plant in the grass family,Poaceae .FAMILY NAME: Poaceae
BOTANICAL NAME: "Festuca glauca"
COMMON NAME: Blue Fescue, Blue Mountain Grass, Grey Fescue,
DESCRIPTION: Evergreen/semi evergreen soft wooded perennial (ornamental grass)
Clump-forming ornamental grass noted for its glaucous, finely-textured, blue-gray foliage. Foliage forms a dome-shaped, porcupine-like tuft of erect to arching, needle-like blades radiating upward and outward to a length of 140-180mm. Light green flowers with a purple tinge appear in terminal panicles atop stems rising above the foliage in late spring to early summer, but inflorescences are not very showy. Flowers give way to puffy wheat like seed heads.
HEIGHT AND WIDTH IN CULTIVATION: Height of 140-180mm (inflorescences typically bring total clump height to 200-250mm).
SOIL/DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS: Must be planted in well drained soil as plants will not grow well in wet soils. Tolerates dry and low nutrient soils.
LIGHT/WATER REQUIREMENTS: Plant in a full sun for best foliage colour. Will also grow in lightly shaded position. Will tolerate drought, neglect and lack of nutrients but prefers regular watering.
PRUNING REQUIREMENTS: If plant has a large amount of dead leaves, prune back to 40mm from ground level. This is to be done in winter. Lift and divide clumps if needed (also to be done in winter).
PROPAGATION: Division of established clumps in winter is the easiest method although, plants can be grown from seed.
MAINTENANCE/WEED CONTROL: Plants require frequent division as clumps tend to die out in the center and need to be divided, replanted or replaced every 2-3 years. Plant foliage may decline considerably in very hot, humid summers. Weeds often build up amongst the clumps when used as a ground cover and need to be removed by hand.
Large areas can be removed by hand or sprayed with Glyphosate herbicide.
COMMON PESTS/DISEASES: No known pests and diseases
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