Blue Fescue
For sale in Lawrenceville, GA
- Slow
- Full Sun
- Cold hardy to USDA Zone 8a
- Deer resistant
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About Blue Fescue
Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) is a small, tidy ornamental grass forming a compact, spiky mound of intense silvery-blue foliage that stays under a foot tall and wide, making it one of the most useful small-scale grasses for edging, rock gardens, and mass plantings where its striking color provides contrast against green groundcovers and darker foliage shrubs. It tolerates Georgia's heat reasonably well but, being a cool-season grass, can struggle in the most humid, prolonged summer stretches, sometimes thinning out or browning in the center during peak Southern heat; siting with good air circulation and avoiding overly wet, humid microclimates helps it perform its best. It is highly drought tolerant once established and needs sharp drainage, since it is prone to rot in heavy, poorly drained Georgia clay. Its slow growth and small mature size make it a good choice for a tidy formal edging or for repeating in a mass planting rhythm along a walkway, where its blue color reads as a cool accent against the greens and reds of surrounding perennials.
🚚 Delivery available to Lawrenceville and all of Gwinnett County — see our service area for exact timing.
Plant Specifications
| Mature Height | 0.75-1 ft |
|---|---|
| Mature Width | 0.75-1 ft |
| Sun Requirements | Full Sun |
| Water Needs | Low — drought tolerant once established |
| Bloom Season | Late Spring (thin, wispy flower spikes) |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 8a |
| Deer Resistant | Yes |
| Pet Safe | Yes |
| Native to Georgia | No |
Planting Instructions & Regional Tips
Plant Blue Fescue in full sun in sharply well-drained soil; amend heavy Georgia clay generously or use a raised bed, since good drainage is essential to prevent rot. Space plants 10-12 inches apart for a mass planting or edging effect. Water regularly the first season; established plants are drought tolerant. Comb out dead foliage by hand in late winter or early spring rather than shearing, which can damage the tidy mounded form.
Fast Facts
- Compact mound of intense silvery-blue foliage
- Mature size: under 1 ft tall and wide
- Cool-season grass — can struggle in peak Georgia humidity
- Needs sharply drained soil to prevent rot
- Deer resistant, drought tolerant once established
- Good for edging, rock gardens, and mass plantings
Pairs Well With
Blue Fescue FAQs
Does Blue Fescue do well in Georgia summers?
Blue Fescue can struggle somewhat during Georgia's most humid, prolonged summer heat since it is a cool-season grass, sometimes thinning or browning in the center. Siting it with good air circulation, sharp drainage, and avoiding overly wet conditions helps it perform its best through the hottest months.
Is Blue Fescue deer resistant?
Yes, Blue Fescue is considered deer resistant, making it a reliable choice for Gwinnett County properties bordering wooded areas with regular deer traffic. As with any "deer resistant" plant, hungry deer in a hard winter may still sample new growth occasionally, but damage is typically minimal.