Festuca glauca 'Intense Blue' – A Vibrant, Compact Grass with Striking Blue Foliage
Festuca glauca 'Intense Blue' is an ornamental grass that offers an eye-catching splash of cool blue to the garden. Known for its compact, mound-like shape and striking silvery-blue foliage, this hardy grass creates texture and contrast in garden beds, borders, and containers. Perfect for adding colour to rock gardens or as a decorative accent, ‘Intense Blue’ provides year-round interest with its stunning blue blades, which maintain their vibrancy even in winter. This low-maintenance grass is ideal for those seeking a hardy, drought-tolerant plant that requires minimal care.
Why Grow Festuca glauca 'Intense Blue'?
Striking Blue Foliage – The standout feature of 'Intense Blue' is its dense, vibrant blue foliage, which adds a cool, dramatic effect to any garden. Its colour intensifies as it matures, offering a stunning contrast with other plants.
Compact Growth Habit – ‘Intense Blue’ forms a compact, rounded mound of foliage, making it a perfect choice for small spaces, rock gardens, or as a low-growing accent in larger borders or containers.
Drought-Tolerant & Hardy – Once established, this grass is highly drought-tolerant and can withstand dry conditions, making it a great addition to water-wise gardens. It is also hardy in a range of climates, providing year-round interest with minimal care.
Low-Maintenance – Festuca glauca ‘Intense Blue’ requires very little maintenance, making it ideal for gardeners who want a stunning plant without the hassle. It is pest- and disease-resistant and doesn’t require frequent watering once established.
Planting & Care Guide
Position – Prefers full sun but can tolerate light shade in hotter climates. The best results are achieved when it is planted in bright, sunny spots that allow the blue colour of the foliage to really pop.
Soil – Thrives in well-drained, moderately fertile soil. It is adaptable to a range of soil types, including sandy or gravelly soils, but prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions.
Watering – Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system. Once established, Festuca glauca ‘Intense Blue’ is drought-tolerant and requires minimal watering, making it a great choice for low-maintenance gardens.
Maintenance:
- Trim back any dead or damaged foliage in early spring before new growth begins.
- Remove spent flower heads to keep the plant looking neat and to encourage a tidy mound shape.
- Divide clumps every 2-3 years to maintain vigour and prevent overcrowding.
Perfect Plant Combinations
Festuca glauca 'Intense Blue' pairs beautifully with other drought-tolerant and sun-loving plants such as Lavender, Echinacea, or Coreopsis. Its striking blue foliage provides a stunning contrast when planted alongside the warm tones of Sedum, Achillea, or Rudbeckia. For a more textural effect, combine with ornamental grasses like Pennisetum or Miscanthus, which complement its soft, spiky form. It also works well in a Mediterranean-style garden, combining with plants like Thyme, Cistus, or Santolina for a low-maintenance, water-wise display.
Height & Spread – Festuca glauca ‘Intense Blue’ typically grows to a height of 30–40 cm (12–16 inches) with a spread of 30–45 cm (12–18 inches), making it ideal for creating low borders, edging, or container plantings.
Does the height include the pot?
No, we measure from the top of the pot to the tip of the plant except for some of the instant planted screens, in this case it will be stated in the description
How long does delivery take?
Most orders are delivered in just a few days, Smaller items are often sent with Parcelforce on a next day service, Larger items should allow up to 10 days due to the size of the items they often have to be sent on our own transport.
Where will you leave my plants?
We will leave your order at the front of your property, Parcelforce may
leave your items in a safe place if you let us know, Pallet couriers
will require a flat hard surface to deliver to, no gravel or soil, a
driveway or parking spot would be best. Most importantly Deliveries by
pallet courier will require access for a large truck (bin lorry sized)
to get near the delivery point. Deliveries sent on our own transport may come in a small van or larger truck.
