Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'

Also Known As

Festuca cinerea
Festuca ovina glauca
Festuca ovina var. glauca 'Elijah Blue'
Elijah Blue Fescue

Plant type

perennial, grass / grass like

size

H: 8"-10"
W: 1'-2'

planting zones

4a-8b

More Options

Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' plant details

Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' is an evergreen perennial grass (or grassy in appearance) with blue foliage. In summer tan flowers emerge. Features grassy texture. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in average and gritty soil. A good option if you're seeking something verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'

Plant type: perennial grass (or grassy in appearance)
Plant family: poaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue
Mature size: 1 FT - 2 FT - wide, 8 IN - 10 IN - tall
Flowers: tan blooms in summer
Uses: container plant, edging plant, rock garden, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'

USDA Zones: 4a - 8b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: deer, verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average and gritty

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

One of the best of the blue fescues, forming neat, densely-tufted domes of fine, steely-blue-gray blades, in late spring/early summer they are adorned with pretty light-green tinged purple 14" flower stalks, this 8-12" tall grass an attractive, slowly-spreading edger or rock garden specimen. S/M/GDr

By: Forestfarm

Zn 4. Powdery-blue foliage. Keeps color all year.

By: Little Prince of Oregon

Clump-forming ornamental grass with silvery-blue foliage. Light tan-colored flowers appear in early to mid-summer on 10 inch stalks. When in full bloom it can be sheared to prevent it from going to seed. If allowed, it will produce viable seed and come up where it may not be wanted. Also, if allowed to seed, the plant may not be as vibrant throughout the rest of the season. Blue foliage will hold well throughout the summer months, and will be its bluest if kept in full sun. Is evergreen in our zone 8, but will be a perennial in colder climates. If kept evergreen, it will need a shearing in late winter/early spring to start fresh for the season.

By: Garden World

Elijah Blue' offers great design potential in gardens or containers with wiry blue foliage. Combine with burgundy or gold heuchera, phormium and other foliage with rich greens. In fact, combine 'Elijah Blue' with just about anything for a great combination. On the West Coast Festuca should be planted in hot dry spots with thin soils. Avoid rich soils. Also great in containers.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

Evergreen short tuft steely blue Ht: 12"

By: Jockey Hill Nursery

This is perhaps the bluest of all the Festuca we grow, neat tufts so blue they look spray -painted. ZONE 5

By: Arrowhead Alpines

Full Sun to Light Shade. Outdoor. White to Near White Minute flowers on spikes.

By: Moon - Sun Cactus & Koi Gardens

The intense silver-blue foliage of this cultivar recommends it for almost any garden, where it will combine handsomely with other silvers, darkest greens and even purples. Plants form tidy mounds to 10? tall and send up silver-blue flower stalks in spring that fade to warmest gold. Provide an annual shearing to maintain a fresh appearance, and replace individual plants every 3-4 years. Hardy to below 0F.

By: Native Sons

Especially choice for its soft, dusky blue foliage. This selection grows to only 8" and has the typical fescue clumping habit. Prefers a cool season climate, sometimes becoming dormant in summer. Needs summer dryness to do well. Excellent in coastal climates!

By: Greer Gardens Inc.

Fine textured blue buns of grass, to only 1 ft tall and as wide, for bright sun and well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. Trim back to 3-4" in spring for renewed growth and color. Evergreen in Portland. A good ground cover in the dry garden with clumps planted close for best effect. Frost hardy in USDA zone 4.