FESTUCA. Worldwide, in temperate regions. Except for the lawn fescues and the ubiquitous blue fescue, F. cinerea, this group was long ignored for ornamental use. Finally public interest in these and other perennial bunchgrasses seems to be taking off. The following selections make thick hummocks of narrow leaves. Their slender, wand-like flowering stems bear airy sprays of flower and seed heads. Though attractive for border use, they are best appreciated en masse on banks and hillsides, where they can also assist in erosion control. Sun or (for some species) light shade, well drained soil, moderate to no supplemental watering when established. The following should all be hardy to 10oF. or less.
amethystina ‘Superba’. A beautiful small fescue, making tight 8-12" clumps. The leaves are quite narrow and dark bluish green in color. In late spring and early summer it bears feathery, pink-tinged flower clusters on 12-18" stems.
californica ‘Blue Fountain’. California fescue. California fescue is one of the largest of the clan, broadly distributed in California. This is a selection I made in the Mt. Hamilton Range. Like the species as a whole, it is an elegant tall bunchgrass, clumping tightly at the base, with leaves arching to 2’ or more. In this selection the leaves are colored a chalky blue. Graceful flowering stems rise 3-4’ in summer, displaying open sprays of large flower heads. California fescue is among the most shade-tolerant of the group.
cinerea (F. ovina var. glauca). Blue fescue. Europe, especially Mediterranean region. Long before gardeners developed their current passion for the grasses, blue fescue was used in vast quantities in borders and banks for its bright spots of blue. Recently it has been displaced to some extent by the dozens of other ornamental grasses and sedges now available. However, at the same time, selected forms with particularly desirable features have appeared. These make leafy hummocks 6-12" high. The leaves are narrow and rolled. The flowering stems, rising well above the foliage, are decorative but often not freely produced. Both the stems and the flower clusters often have a blue or silvery cast, changing gradually to pale straw color. ‘Azurit’ is one of the brightest, its leaves chalky blue in summer, darkening in winter. The flowering stems are about 1’ tall. ‘Elijah Blue’ is similar but a little larger, in my experience (not as described in some of the grass books). A recent introduction is ‘Golden Toupee’. It is also quite fine-leaved but most distinguished by the leaf color, which changes gradually from pale yellow (not gold) in the new growth to chartreuse at maturity. Even along the coast it is decidedly happier in light shade. With this exception, the blue fescues are rugged grasses, reveling in full exposure, well drained soil, and moderate to only occasional summer watering. Hardy to 0oF. or less.
idahoensis ‘Warren Peak’. This is a good example of the joys of prowling the backcountry of California. It was just one of many small treasures encountered on a trip to the Warner Mountains, one of our true botanical wonderlands. It makes 6" hummocks of very narrow leaves, bright green at first and becoming greyish green in age. The 1-2’ blooming stems are silvery to pale pink in color. Both these and the glistening seed heads are most attractive. Two more recent kidnappings resulted in ‘Snow Mountain’ and ‘Muse Meadow’, both with bluer foliage. ‘Snow Mountain’ is a robust plant with stems to 2’. ‘Muse Meadow’ is about half that size, with the darkest, prettiest leaves of all.
muelleri. A recent arrival in California, similar to F. tenuifolia, below. It is a densely clumping grass of mop-like habit, with fine, limp, bright to dark green leaves. So far it seems a little less temperamental than F. tenuifolia, though it clearly resents heavy soils and heavy watering.
rubra `Jughandle’. Red fescue. California has many clumping forms of red fescue, whose spreading forms are used as lawn grasses. Typically ours are mop-like in habit, with limp, narrow, dark green leaves. This selection is distinguished by relatively short, sturdy stems and leaves but even more by its chalky bluish green color. It should be one of the more shade- and water-tolerant of the fescues.
tenuifolia. This species is noted for its thread-like, gracefully arching 6-10" leaves, which form little mops. The leaves are light to bright green in this selection. It seems to be a shy bloomer in cultivation. Well drained soil is a must!