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.
