Description
Festuca glauca ‘Blue Select’ is a compact, evergreen ornamental grass prized for its intense blue foliage and perfectly rounded, architectural form. As an improved selection of Blue Fescue, it offers stronger colour, tighter growth and excellent year‑round structure. Its drought tolerance, low‑nutrient requirements and suitability for peat‑free, unheated production make it a standout commercial cultivar for modern, climate‑resilient landscapes.
Key Features:
Propagation method: Seeds.
Substrate: Jiffy propagation Mix.
Plug Size: 4.5cm.
Production system: Grown without artificial light or heating for hardened plants.
Height: 20–30 cm.
Spread: 25–35 cm, forming neat, spherical clumps.
Flower Colour: Soft yellow‑green panicles rising above the foliage.
Foliage: Fine, needle‑like, intensely blue leaves; evergreen and tightly tufted.
Flowering Period: Late spring to early summer.
Hardiness: Fully hardy in the UK (H7).
Growth Habit & Ecology:
‘Blue Select’ forms a tight, domed mound of striking blue foliage, making it a favourite for contemporary planting, gravel gardens, alpine beds and container displays. Its fine texture contrasts beautifully with bolder perennials and succulents, while its evergreen nature ensures year‑round interest.
Although not native, its dense structure provides micro‑habitats for insects and contributes to ecological diversity in dry, low‑input landscapes. Because it thrives in poor soils and full sun, it is an excellent choice for climate‑resilient planting schemes.
Plant Care:
Plant in full sun for the strongest blue tones.
Well‑drained, low‑fertility soils, Suitable for chalk, sand, gravel and rocky substrates & avoid heavy, waterlogged soils.
Trim lightly in early spring to remove winter scorch.
Do not over‑fertilise – it prefers lean soils.
Divide clumps every 3-4 years if needed.
Ideal for containers, gravel gardens, alpine beds and modern borders.
Transitioning to maintenance, once established, ‘Blue Select’ is exceptionally low‑maintenance and drought‑tolerant.
Pollinator Value:
Wind‑pollinated, but provides shelter for small insects
Dense mounds create micro‑habitats in dry gardens
Sensory Value:
Fine, tactile foliage adds texture and visual softness
Evergreen domes provide year‑round structure
Strong blue colour offers high visual impact in sensory spaces
Ecological Value:
Excellent for drought‑resilient planting
Supports micro‑fauna in dry, rocky habitats
Helps stabilise soil in gravel and alpine settings
Suitable for green roofs and low‑input landscapes
Commercial Notes:
‘Blue Select’ is ideal for:
Retail lines focused on architectural grasses
Drought‑tolerant and climate‑resilient ranges
Alpine and rock‑garden collections
Peat‑free, low‑input production (no heat or artificial light required)
Modern landscaping, gravel gardens and green roofs
FESTUCA glauca Blue Select are supplied as strong, well-rooted, hardy plug plants ready for potting into pots up-to 2lt formats.
