Description
Festuca valesiaca ‘Glaucantha’ is a compact, fine‑textured, drought‑tolerant grass valued for its soft blue‑green foliage and neat, tufted habit. As a selection of the Valesian Fescue, it thrives in dry, sunny, low‑fertility conditions, making it ideal for gravel gardens, alpine beds, green roofs and climate‑resilient landscapes. Its ability to perform beautifully in peat‑free, unheated production systems adds strong commercial appeal.
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 tight, rounded clumps.
Flower Colour: Soft green to straw‑yellow panicles.
Foliage: Fine, needle‑like, blue‑green leaves; evergreen and densely tufted.
Flowering Period: Late spring to early summer.
Hardiness: Fully hardy in the UK (H7).
Growth Habit & Ecology:
‘Glaucantha’ forms a neat, spherical mound of evergreen foliage, offering year‑round structure and colour. Its fine texture and cool blue‑green tones make it a favourite for contemporary planting, alpine gardens and minimalist designs. Although not native, its dense, tufted habit provides shelter for insects and contributes to micro‑habitat 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, xeriscaping and green roof installations.
Plant Care:
Plant in full sun for the strongest colour.
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, ‘Glaucantha’ 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
Blue‑green tones offer calming 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:
‘Glaucantha’ is ideal for:
Retail lines focused on architectural grasses.
Drought‑tolerant and climate‑resilient ranges.
Alpine and rock‑garden collections.
Modern landscaping, gravel gardens and green roofs.
FESTUCA Valesiaca Glaucantha are supplied as strong, well-rooted, hardy plug plants ready for potting into pots up-to 2lt formats.
