A mature Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue') growing in a residential garden bed

In the landscape

Border · Foundation · Container · Small space · Walkway · Butterfly · Cottage · Drought tolerant

Data sources

Missouri Botanical Garden, NC State Extension

Blue Fescue

Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ · Ornamental grass

Blue Fescue is an ornamental grass, hardy in USDA zones 4-8, that matures to about 10–12 in × 1–1.5 ft. It does best in full sun with low water needs in well-drained soil. Expect blue, yellow and green blooms in summer. It attracts butterflies, stands up well to black walnut, deer and drought and grows happily in containers.

USDA zones: 4-8
Sun: Full sun
Water: Low
Mature size: 10–12 in × 1–1.5 ft
Spacing: 12 in-3 ft
Maintenance: Medium
Soil: Well-drained
Foliage: Blue, Green
Bloom color: Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple
Bloom season: Summer
Attracts: Butterflies
Tough against: Black walnut, Deer, Drought, Dry soil, Pollution, Poor soil
Native to: Central and southern Europe

Will it survive your winters?

We score Blue Fescue’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

More plants for your zone: Zone 4 · Zone 5 · Zone 6 · Zone 7 · Zone 8