Festuca Buddy Blue, Festuca valesiaca var. glaucantha, is an evergreen ornamental grass native to Europe. PanAmerican developed this ColorGrass cultivar for the best innovation and genetics in seed technology. This plant offers silver-blue foliage with an upright, tuft-forming, mounding habit 8-12" tall and wide and beige spikelet inflorescences. Bring depth and texture to landscape beds, borders, and rock gardens, or use this grass as an accent plant or small-space ground cover. This plant is perennial in zones 4-8, providing year-round color with little maintenance. Flourishing in full sun with light water, this heat and drought-tolerant grass also resists deer and rabbit damage. For a blue-green Festuca, try growing Festuca Freddy.
Festuca Buddy Blue Selling Tips
Sell Festuca Buddy Blue to customers looking for color contrast or foliage to add to a mixed container or landscape border. This ornamental grass offers mounding blue-silver foliage well-suited to mixed containers, landscape beds, rock gardens, and use as ground cover. Bring evergreen color to the garden in zones 4-8 with this drought-tolerant grass. Create a visually striking display of color and texture by pairing Festuca Buddy Blue with Achillea, Echinacea, Sedum, Lavender, Nepeta, Rudbeckia, Salvia, and Heuchera.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 10-12" apart in well-drained soil in full sun.
2. Water occasionally or more in dry weather.
3. In climates colder than zone 4, remove plants after frost or overwinter containers in a protected area. Cut plants back to 3" above the ground in spring.
4. Cut off inflorescences to prevent self-seeding or for a tidier appearance.
General Growing Tips For Your Seedling Tray
For best results with Festuca Buddy Blue, grow one seedling plug per 1801 cell or 4-inch container or three per 6-inch container. Use well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7.5, EC of 1.2-1.5 mS/cm, and medium feed (175-225 ppm N). Use a nitrate-based fertilizer low in phosphorus and avoid excess ammonia, nitrogen fertilizers, and overfeeding, which lead to less upright plants. Provide temperatures of 50-65 degrees and full sun. This plant requires little water and isn't prone to pests or disease. Watch for aphids, spider mites, and root rot.
Flowering
This plant produces beige spikelets in summer to fall.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant.
Height Control
This plant doesn't require PGRs.
Pests
This plant isn't prone to pests but scout for aphids and spider mites as part of your commercial greenhouse's Integrated Pest Management program.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that cause damage by sucking sap from plant tissue. They reproduce quickly and are particularly attracted to young growth. Curling and yellowed leaves, stunted growth, and stickiness on leaves are signs of an infestation. These insects also spread diseases and reproduce rapidly. Use biological controls or horticultural oils to discourage and kill aphids.
Spider Mites are tiny pests that cause stippling, yellowing, and webbing on foliage by feeding on plant sap. They flourish in warm, dry environments. Use correct water and fertilizing practices; over-fertilizing can attract spider mites. Proper humidity levels, predatory mites or ladybugs, and insecticidal soaps or oils may prevent or address a spider mite infestation.
Disease
This plant isn't prone to disease but root rot can develop in overly humid coniditions or with poor drainage. Use a well-drained soil and always sanitize tools and surfaces and use sanitary growing media and containers.
Root Rot occurs in poorly drained or overly wet soil, which becomes the host for several types of fungi. It causes stunted growth, wilting, and root system decay. Prevention is the best treatment, and you will avoid most root rot problems by using clean, well-draining media, appropriate containers, and good watering practices for finishing seedling plugs. Inspect plants for signs of disease regularly. Repot infected plants in well-draining soil, adjust your watering schedule, provide better airflow, and use a fungicide if needed.
Planting Festuca Buddy Blue Liners
Plant one seedling plug per 1801 cell or 4-inch container or three per 6-inch container. Use well-drained soil and completely bury the plug centered or evenly spaced in the pot.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Festuca Buddy Blue Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 6-7 Weeks |
|---|
| Habit | Mounding, Upright |
|---|
| Height | 8-12 Inches |
|---|
| Light | Full Sun |
|---|
| Minimum Temp | 50 |
|---|
| Perennial Zone | 4-8 |
|---|
| Water Needs | Light |
|---|
| Patented Plant | No |
|---|
