Festuca amethystina 'Amethyst Fescue' Grass

Festuca amethystina has the most striking combination of silvery-blue, tufted blades of foliage, with drooping, dark violet-tinged flower stems that will rise above the foliage in the first year if sown early enough.
It is a gem for a rock garden or containers; it is drought-proof once established. In the garden it's happiest in full sun and well-drained soils but can handle moist soils better than other species of Festuca.

The stiff thread-like blue foliage forms dense mounds, which look good grown for foliage interest amongst a wide variety of plants. Wonderful with rocks or as a small scale groundcover or edging plant. Best in full sun, but will tolerate some shade with moderate to regular water.
Plants develop their most intense colouration when kept dry in summer.

This beautiful selection rivals the best of the Festuca glauca cultivars - a small-scale ornamental grass which produces big-time results in the garden!

Sowing: Sow in Spring. February to April
Festuca glauca germinates easily from seed sown in spring. Sow in well drained soil and keep at around 20ºC (68ºF). Germinates in about two weeks
Once seedlings are large enough to handle, take a small clump of seedlings and put them all in a one-litre pot of gritty compost. They will form a bushy plant and be ready to go into the garden in summer. Grow in sun and in well drained soil. Sow 6mm (¼in) deep in rows 30cm (12in) apart in well cultivated soil which has been raked to a fine tilth. Germination is occasionally slow, so be patient!
Thin out the seedlings to 23cm (9in) apart. Replant the seedlings that have been removed

Cultivation:
Feed in spring like ordinary perennials, with a single dressing of a general fertiliser. Even without an annual feed, most grasses will put on a first-rate show. The more nitrogen grasses receive the greener and further they'll grow. This spreading habit is fine in a field, but in a garden they may become too lush and the flower quality may suffer.

Division:
Once the plant is established, divide in March to April. It is relatively easy to propagate by division. Do this in spring, not autumn, as some newly divided plants may rot before they've developed a good root system.

Plant Uses:
Architectural, Cottage/Informal Garden, Drought Resistant, Flower Arranging, Flowers Borders and Beds, Green Roof, Low Maintenance, Mediterranean or Maritime.

Origin:
Native to Europe, it was originally described by French naturalist Dominique Villars.

Nomenclature:
Festuca is derived from the Latin festuca meaning ’stalk or straw’.
The species name amethystina is in reference to the colour of the leaves.
It is commonly known as the Amethyst Fescue