Botanical Name: Festuca glauca 'Boulder Blue'
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Common Name: Boulder Blue Fescue  
Plant photo of: Festuca glauca 'Boulder Blue'
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Water Saving Tip:

Change spray sprinklers to low-flow bubbler or drip systems. Shrubs and trees are ideal candidates for this type of irrigation because the water is applied directly to the root zones.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Ground cover, Grass

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Green, White

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Blue Green, Silver

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Low

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal, Japanese, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Unusual Foliage

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Foundation, Parking Strip, Parking Lot, Walkways, With Rocks

 

Special Uses

Container, Filler, Mass Planting, Lawn Alternative, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

Intense blue coloration makes Boulder Blue a standout in the landscape. Grows 15 inches tall and 12 inches wide. Plumes are green to creamy white, turning wheat colored in the fall. Very upright habit. Taller than F. 'Sea Urchin.' Use in the perennial border or as a groundcover, though it isn't well suited for areas with foot traffic. It does look fabulous surrounding pavers for a walk or patio. Evergreen, or very nearly so.
Grows in full to part sun and well drained soil. Soggy or wet soils will cause it to rot out. No need to deadhead; birds love the seeds and the plume tend to breakup and fall apart on their own. Blends beautifully with thyme, sunrose, and pussytoes. Great in parkstrips.