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Blue Fescue Seeds
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Blue Fescue (Festuca cinerea glauca Varna) - Create low-growing clumps with Blue Fescue seed. These ornamental grasses are excellent for the front of the border, and the blue-green color complements colorful ornamentals. The Blue Fescue plant can survive extended droughts and the stress of a drought only deepens the color of the ornamental grass.
MORE ORNAMENTAL GRASS OPTIONS
Grass Specifications
SEASON
Perennial
USDA ZONES
4 - 7
HEIGHT
10 inches
WIDTH
8 inches
FLOWER COLOR
Grey-blue
GROWTH RATE
Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENT
Average to dry soils, pH 5.8 - 6.8
ENVIRONMENT
Full sun
DEER RESISTANT
Yes
MOISTURE REQUIREMENTS
Average to dry
LATIN NAME
Festuca cinerea
Planting Directions
TEMPERATURE
68F
AVERAGE GERM TIME
2 - 3 weeks
LIGHT REQUIRED
Yes
DEPTH
Do not cover seeds, but light press into soil
SOWING RATE
3 seeds per plant
MOISTURE
Keep seeds moist until germination
PLANT SPACING
12 inches
Ornamental Garden Grass
Blue Fescue is a hardy and unique clumping grass that serves as an excellent border decoration.
Unique Landscape Addition
How to Grow
Plant seed when temperatures reach 68 degrees Fahrenheit: average germination time is 2 - 3 weeks. Light is required during germination. Do not cover the seeds, but instead tightly press into the earth. Sow 3 seeds per plant. Grow fescues in a border or rock garden to provide foliage contrast with alpines.
- Plant spacing: 12 inches
- Soil: average to dry w' pH 5.8-6.8
- Moisture: keep seeds moist until germination
- Divide and replant every 2-3 years to maintain foliage color
Grass Specifications
Blue fescue is a perennial ornamental grass that grows in USDA zones 4 through 7. It can survive extended periods of drought, and drought only serves to deepen the grass' vivid color. Blue fescue is one of the shortest ornamental grasses available.
- Foliage color: grey-blue
- Fall color: no change
- Plant height: 10 inches
Blue Fescue (Festuca cinerea glauca Varna) - Create low-growing clumps with Blue Fescue seed. This drought tolerant ornamental grassk is excellent for the front of the border, and the blue-green color complements colorful ornamentals. Blue Fescue has traditionally been viewed only as a clumping ornamental grass with a few plants spaced in a landscape bed, but Blue Fescue grass also mixes well with wildflowers and does not crowd them out. A low maintenance, water conservation ground cover can be created by using Blue Fescue ornamental grass seed.
The waxy leaf covering reduces transpiration so the Blue Fescue plant can survive extended droughts and the stress of a drought only deepens the color of the ornamental grass. Blue Fescue is one of the shortest ornamental grasses available, with the foliage not exceeding 12 inches in height, so mowing is only needed to remove seed heads if desired. It has good winter color and looks green during this period. Blue Fescues are very shade tolerant, often found in the dry shade of trees. Blue Fescue plant care includes cutting the plant back to 2 inches in the early spring. Trim flower heads to prevent self-sowing. This ornamental grass seems to prefer some neglect so it is perfect for the xeriscape garden where water conservation and drought tolerance are important.
How To Grow Blue Fescue Ornamental Grass From Seeds: Blue Fescue seeds can be started either indoors in late winter or directly outside once frost danger has passed. For indoor sowing, use small peat pots or containers, fill with seed starting mix, and press 3 ornamental grass seeds into the soil. Lightly cover the grass seeds and keep them moist until germination. For outdoors sowing, weed and loosen the soil and add a generous amount of seed starting mix to the soil. Space the Blue Fescue grass seeds about 12 inches apart. Once seedlings are about 4 inches in height, bunch the leaves together and trim off 1/2 inch or so. Trimming encourages greater root development and a uniform look. The seedlings will appear green with the blue being added to the grass as the drought tolerant plant matures.
Grass Specifications
SEASON
Perennial
USDA ZONES
3 - 8
HEIGHT
12 inches
WIDTH
10 inches
FOLIAGE COLOR
Blue-green
FLOWER COLOR
Greenish fading to tan
GROWTH RATE
Moderate
FALL COLOR
Same
SOIL REQUIREMENT
Well-drained soils, pH 5.8 - 7.5
ENVIRONMENT
Full sun
MOISTURE REQUIREMENTS
Dry to medium
DEER RESISTANT
Yes
LATIN NAME
Koeleria glauca
Planting Directions
TEMPERATURE
70F
AVERAGE GERM TIME
7 - 14 days
LIGHT REQUIRED
Yes
DEPTH
Cover the seeds with a thin layer of vermiculite
SOWING RATE
3 - 5 seeds per plant
MOISTURE
Keep soil moist until germination
PLANT SPACING
10 inches
TEMPERATURE
AVERAGE GERM TIME
LIGHT REQUIRED
DEPTH
SOWING RATE
MOISTURE
Origins Of The Blue Hair Grass
The Blue Hair Grass grows mainly in eastern Central Europe.
Blue Hair Grass Seeds
How to Grow
Sow Blue Grass seeds in February to April or September to November. Sow in full sun or semi-shade in medium, well-drained soil. If sowing your Blue Hair Grass in a container, sow in a soil mixture of sand and loam. You can even add wood ships, clay balls, or gravel to the bottom of the container.
- Sowing Rate: 3 - 5 seeds per plant
- Depth: Cover the seeds with a thin layer of vermiculite
- Average Germ Time: 7 - 14 days
- Moisture: Keep soil moist until germination
Grass Specifications
In the fall, the flower spikes can be removed to neaten the appearance of the ornamental grass plant. Can divide in spring or fall.
- Plant Spacing: 10 inches
- Width: 10 inches
- Height: 12 inches
- USDA Zones: 3 - 8
Blue Hair Grass (Koeleria glauca) - Drought tolerant Blue Hair grass seed produce both the foliage and flowers that are attractive and enhancing to the landscape, and it is one of the few low-growing ornamental grasses. This ornamental grass will only grow to 12 inch tall, producing dense tufts of blue-green leaves. Blue Hair grass is a well-behaved and non-spreading species that is suitable for sunny borders. It forms a low mound of very fine blue-green leaves with a hedgehog appearance. In the spring, flower panicles emerge that are glossy green, and they mature into tan seed heads by midsummer and last through late summer. The flowers preserve well and can be used in dried arrangements. The Blue Hair plant may remain evergreen in mild winter regions. Blue Hair Grass care includes a hard trimming in late winter down to 2 inches to remove dead foliage. In the fall, the flower spikes can be removed to neaten the appearnace of the ornamental grass plant. Can divide in spring or fall.
Blue Hair grass grows easily in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. It performs the best in lean soils and will not do as well in rich, fertile soil. Koeleria glauca Blue Hair grass is drought tolerant, but it is not tolerant of heavy clay soils, wet soils and shade.