Kostrzewa sina(Festuca glauca) is found all over Europe, mainly in sunny rocky places and in the mountains. Ingardens, fescue can be planted on rockeries or combined with low perennials , using numerous interestingvarieties of blue fescueSee what it looks likeblue fescue cultivation in the garden , how to properlytrim blue fescue , and learn how to independentlyreproduce this species of fescue
Kostrzewa sina 'Intense Blue'
Fig. © PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Varieties of blue fescue
Blue fescue has silver-blue leavesand does not sprout stolons, but forms spherical clumps about 20 cm high. This grass has an extensive root system and curled leaves that allow it to adapt to difficult living conditions in an unfavorable environment.Fescue flowers appear from June to Julyand are gathered in spike panicles. The plant is also often found under the nameash fescue
Below we presentinteresting varieties of fescue for garden cultivation :
Kostrzwa glaucoma 'Intense Blue'(in the photo above) - reaches 30 cm in height, forming steel-blue clumps of leaves. It prefers a dry and sunny position where it stains the best. This variety of fescue copes well in our climate and winters well.
Kostrzewa sina 'Silberreiher'- another variety with a beautiful blue color, grows up to 20 cm tall, blooms from June to August.
Kostrzewa glaucoma 'Azurit'- is an undemanding variety that grows into dense, spherical clumps of blue color, the leaves of which are covered with a waxy coating that enhances the shade of the variety. It blooms from May to July. It also grows up to 20 cm in height.
Blue fescue 'Blauglut'- reaches a height of 15 cm, but in the flowering period up to 30 cm, this blue fescue variety forms a few inflorescences from July to August, which are initially blue with a purple tinge, they turn gray during the growing season and finally turn brown.
Kostrzwa blue 'Elijah Blue'- has a gray-blue shade that lasts all summer. The plant is about 20 cm tall and 25 cm wide. It blooms from May to June, initially with bluish inflorescences, and gradually turning yellow as they develop.
Blue Fescue 'Golden Toupee'(photo below) - leaves of this fescue variety are bright yellow in spring, then turn green. Height up to 20 cm, inflorescence shoots up to 35 cm. It blooms from June to July. Fully frost-resistant.
Kostrzewa sina 'Golden Toupee'
Fig. © Herbi
Growing blue fescue
Blue fescue is suitable for rock gardensand all free compositions, especially typically grassy. It also looks good when planted in a group of perennials.
In the cultivation of blue fescueit is worth paying attention to providing the grass with a sunny position, becausein order to maintain a beautiful blue color, blue fescue should grow in full sun on light soil, possibly without fertilizationOn heavy soil it ages quickly and excess moisture leads to rotting.
Growing blue fescuewe should not worry about drought or strong winds, because it will cope even in such extreme conditions.Kostrzewa prefers a permeable, sandy substrate , rather dry and poor in nutrients. It is therefore a great drought-resistant plant!
Kostrzewa has been blooming since June . Its inflorescences are initially decorative, but turn yellow with time. Therefore, after flowering, it is worth removing them. Properly early cutting of the inflorescences will prevent the spontaneous spreading of the seeds of this grass.
Trimming blue fescue
Blue fescue is usually combed in early springin order to get rid of dry and rotten blades. However, if our fescue does not look attractive and just refreshing it by brushing does not help,trim the blue fescue also in early springSuch a cut will stimulate the fescue to sprout new blades, and its appearance will become more attractive.
To trim blue fescueyou will need a sharp pruner with which to cut all dry and dead blades to the length of the green parts of the grass, usually about 3 cm high.After cutting, the fescue will start to grow blue rather quicklyand will take on the desired appearance.
'Intense Blue' seedlings in pots
Fig. © PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Propagation of blue fescue
Blue fescue reproduction is best done in early spring by dividing the clumpFor this purpose, in March, dig up the fescue, divide it with a knife and plant it in several places in the garden. We can also stick a spade directly into a clump of grass, dig out the separated part, and then plant it in a new position.
Blue fescue is propagated on plants that are 2-3 years old. What's interestingfescue blue spreads itself , if its inflorescences are not cut in time.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
