Botanical Name: Festuca idahoensis 'Siskiyou Blue'
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Common Name: Siskiyou Blue Fescue  
Plant photo of: Festuca idahoensis 'Siskiyou Blue'
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Broadleaf Evergreen, Ground cover, Perennial, Grass

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Green, White

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Blue Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

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, Seascape, Spanish, Native Garden, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Unusual Foliage

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Foundation, Parking Strip, Raised Planter, Walkways, With Rocks

 

Special Uses

Erosion Control, Mass Planting, Lawn Alternative, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds, Wildlife

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: GardenSoft

  • Description

  • Notes

This selection of the native Idaho Fescue is notable for its enticing spruce-blue foliage. The thin leaves are much longer than the more familiar Festuca glauca, giving 'Siskiyou Blue' a softer, more graceful look. It blooms in the late spring producing tall, straight tan flower spikes typical of Festuca grass. 12 to 16 inches tall and 12 to 18 wide. Well suited to perennial borders, parkstrips, or meadow-lawns. Evergreen.
Grow in full to part sun in well drained soil. Best coloring in full sun. Zones 5-9. Generally doesn't require cutting back. Fescues resent wet soils so take care to not over-water; when planting, set the plant so the crown is slightly above soil grade to give it a good start (see Guides).