Festuca amethystina
large blue fescue
Overview
Festuca amethystina is an evergreen, clump-forming ornamental grass in the grass family, forming a dense tuft of narrow, thread-like blue-green leaves 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) tall, sometimes tinged violet at the base. In early summer, slender flowering stems rise to 18-24 inches (45-60 cm), carrying narrow panicles of spikelets that open with a faint amethyst-violet tint before fading to straw. The foliage clump spreads to 10-14 inches (25-35 cm) wide and stays green through mild winters. Growth is moderate, with a single plant filling its mature width in 2-3 years. The clump can die out at the center after several years and is renewed by division. Leaf color is strongest in full sun and on lean soils, fading toward green in shade or rich ground.
Native Range
Native to central and southeastern Europe, including the eastern Alps, Carpathians, and Balkans. Grows on dry, rocky slopes, open woodland, and limestone grassland in full sun on well-drained soils.Suggested Uses
Planted in gravel gardens, rock gardens, dry borders, and edging at 12-15 inch (30-38 cm) spacing. Used in drifts for blue-green foliage texture and in containers of at least 1 gallon (4 L). Color fades in shade, so it is grown in open, sunny positions.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread10" - 1'2"
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Flowering stems appear in June and carry amethyst-tinted panicles for 2-3 weeks before fading to straw. The dried panicles persist into late summer. Flowering is sparser in shade.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Amethyst-violet fading to strawFoliage Description
Blue-green with violet baseGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun in well-drained soil and tolerates dry, rocky, and limestone ground once established. Performs poorly in heavy, wet soils, where the crown rots over winter. Water during establishment in dry spells, then little supplemental water is needed. The clump can die out in the center after 3-4 years and is lifted and divided in spring to renew it. Leaf color fades toward green in shade or rich soil. Few pests or diseases affect it.Pruning
Comb out dead leaves by hand or cut the clump back by about half in early spring before new growth begins. Remove faded flower stems through summer to keep the tuft tidy. The evergreen foliage does not need hard cutting.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons