A true blue hemisphere
Many very fine rolled blades radiate from a narrow basal crown and maintain a compact rounded mound.
Festuca ´Elijah Blue´® 17cm
Normal price
€11,50
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Festuca ´Elijah Blue´®
Not lawn — personality in tufts 💈
- Fine silver-blue blades
- Dense hemispherical tuft
- Sun and sharp drainage
- Flower stems 30–50cm
Festuca ´Elijah Blue´® is the tuft that turns a simple sunny spot into a designed composition. Hundreds of very fine, icy-blue blades radiate from a small base to form a crisp hemisphere that never looks like ordinary lawn grass. In a pot, gravel garden, rockery or repeated border, it brings colour, rhythm and airy texture with very little bulk but a strong graphic presence.
Repeated through a planting, it creates a trail of small icy-blue brushstrokes that leads the eye; alone in a pot, it gives an immediate clean, contemporary finish. It pairs beautifully with creeping gold-green plants, deep-purple flowers and silver textures, creating strong contrast without crowding the composition. This is a small tuft with real design power, ideal for making a sunny corner feel complete.
ISU Trial Award 1996 · Belgium
What makes it special
‘Elijah Blue’ combines genuinely blue foliage, a compact basal crown and delicate seasonal flowering.
Seasonal panicles, not a shaggy mass
Only a limited number of fine flower stems rise clearly above the foliage in early summer.
Best when conditions are lean
Sun, drainage and restrained feeding produce a denser tuft and cleaner blue than rich, wet ground.
Why you will love it: it gives stone and contemporary planting a precise blue accent, yet moves softly in the wind and changes delicately when its panicles mature.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A sun-loving blue tuft for gravel, the edge of a border or a container with free-flowing drainage.
A blue punctuation mark in full sun
Repeat it through gravel, a rock garden or the front of a sunny border, leaving air around each crown. Keep it away from irrigation-heavy planting and soil that remains wet in winter.
Blue with amber, black and purple
Broader leaves and warm flowers amplify its fine cool texture.
- Achillea ‘Terracotta’ — flat warm flower heads contrast with the blue mound
- Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ — black ribbons deepen the silver-blue tone
- Salvia nemorosa — purple vertical flowers share sun and free drainage
Care at a glance
Light
Full sun produces the strongest colour and the most compact crown.
Watering
Water while establishing, then only after the root zone has dried appreciably; avoid winter wet.
Climate & hardiness
Cold hardy, but prolonged hot, humid weather can slow this cool-season grass and open the centre.
Safety
For ornamental use only; fine blades can feel sharp, so wear gloves when grooming.
Detailed care Complete care guide Eight points for bright blue colour, a dry base and a healthy living centre.
Light
Give it at least six hours of direct sun. In partial shade the foliage becomes greener and longer, and loses its tight radiating form.
Watering
Water deeply during establishment, then allow the upper layer of soil to dry. Constant moisture is more dangerous than a brief dry period.
Soil
It prefers poor to moderately fertile, sandy or gravelly soil with excellent drainage, across a broad pH range.
Feeding
Use little or no fertiliser in good soil. Too much nitrogen produces soft green blades and opens up the clump.
Spring grooming
Gently comb out dry leaves with a gloved hand and trim only damaged tips. Do not mechanically shear the entire evergreen crown down to 5–7cm.
Flower stems
Keep them for an airy golden texture, or remove them at the base once dry if you prefer clean blue hemispheres.
Division
When the centre begins to die back, usually about every three years, divide the clump in spring and retain the vigorous outer sections.
Health
It is generally free of serious pests. Rust can develop where the foliage stays damp and airless; improve airflow and reduce wetting of the leaves.
Development over time From a small blue tuft to a flowering hemisphere The basal clump becomes denser, while flower stems appear only in their natural season.
Crown establishment
Fine roots secure the small basal crown before the tuft expands visibly.
Blue hemisphere
New rolled blades fill the mound to around 20–30cm.
Renewal by division
As an older centre thins, divide in spring and retain vigorous outer sections.
Mature form & dimensions
maturity in 2–5 yearsFoliage 20–30cmSpread 20–30cmFlower stems 30–50cm
Numerous small basal tillers support the fine, curved blades. The vertical measurement marks foliage only; the flowering stems rise above it.
Form through time
spring → summerSpringFresh fine blades thicken the silver-blue tuft before the flowering stems appear.
Early summerSlender flowering stems carry branched panicles above the leaves; the spikelets gradually ripen to pale beige.
The tuft remains evergreen, although winter may make it slightly greener. Panicles stand above the leaves and do not define the height of the permanent foliage clump.
What to expect after planting: The clump will establish its roots first, then fill out evenly from the centre. Do not keep it constantly wet in an attempt to speed growth; a dry, well-aerated centre is essential for lasting density.
History & origin Cultivar origin A Long Island selection associated with the name Elijah Lane
American horticulturist Lois Woodhull selected Festuca ‘Elijah Blue’ at Cutchogue, Long Island, from seedlings associated in surviving records with Festuca glauca or related blue fescue cultivars; the precise parents were not recorded. Woodhull introduced the selection in 1990.
The name is widely associated with Elijah Lane, the road where the nursery stood, although surviving accounts do not establish every detail of the naming story. Gert Fortgens brought the plant to wider European attention in 1995, and a year later it received an ISU Trial Award in Belgium for its stronger blue colour and May–June flowering.
Greenleaf for Plant Nerds Science nobody asked for Botanical details for anyone who wants to know what lies behind the plant’s appearance
The blades roll inwards
Inrolled margins expose less surface to sun and dry air.
Blue is a waxy optical shield
Epicuticular wax scatters light above green chlorophyll and helps limit water loss.
A cool-season C3 grass
Growth is strongest in mild spring and autumn conditions; hot, humid summers can slow it markedly.
Frequently asked questions
Six answers about blue colour, drought, trimming and renewal.
01How large does the tuft become?
Foliage is usually 20–30cm high and wide, with panicles reaching about 30–50cm.
02Why is it turning green?
Low light, rich nitrogen feeding and winter conditions can reduce the silver-blue intensity.
03Can it survive without watering?
Once established it tolerates short dry periods, but a container still needs checking and deep watering as it dries.
04Should it be cut down to 5–7cm?
Not as a routine. Comb out dead foliage and trim only damaged tips in spring.
05Why is the centre opening?
Age, rich soil and moisture accelerate this normal tuft behaviour; divide and retain healthy outer pieces.
06Has it genuinely won an award?
Yes. Festuca ‘Elijah Blue’ received an ISU Trial Award in Belgium in 1996.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.