Atlas fescue

Atlas fescue: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Large, dense, evergreen clump about 60 cm tall and wide, flower heads included.

Foliage

Narrow, grey-green and arching, soft in texture.

Flower

Light, airy panicles on upright stems, from June to August; silvery green to straw-coloured.

Roots

Fibrous, robust root system that tolerates drought well but not wet feet.

Use

Singly or in groups, in a gravel garden, prairie or rock planting, or as a companion in a dry border.

Flowering: June–August · Plants: March–May

Why grow it?

• A large, evergreen clump that gives structure all year round.
• Airy flower heads from June to August that sway in the wind.
• Drought tolerant and fully hardy down to about −20 °C.
• Almost maintenance-free: just comb out the dead leaves in spring.
• In a gravel garden or prairie planting it gives a soft contrast with bold-leaved plants.

Atlas fescue: where does it grow best?

• Full sun for a compact, richly flowering clump.
• Free-draining soil: sand, loam or clay, neutral to chalky. Improve heavy clay with grit.
• Dry to normal: very drought tolerant once established. Wet soil in winter is the danger.
• Plant 50–60 cm apart, singly or in small groups.
• Tolerates wind and heat well and needs no special shelter.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

0.6 m tall, 0.6 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -20 °C)

Goes well with

• Lavender: Blue-purple flowers and grey leaves in the same dry, sunny spot.
• Coneflower: Pink and purple flowers in summer above the airy spikes.
• Globe thistle: Blue globes contrast with the soft panicles.
• Ice plant: Flowers late in the season, when the flower heads are already straw-coloured.

Atlas fescue: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May.

1. Plant from March to May, when the soil is no longer frozen.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the rootball. Mix heavy soil with coarse sand or grit for drainage.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot: the crown must not disappear below ground.
4. Plant 50–60 cm apart.
5. Water in well and then during prolonged drought in the first season.
6. Lay a thin layer of grit or fine chippings around the clump; no thick, damp mulch.

Care

Water

In the first year, water in dry weather. After that it is rarely needed.

Feeding

Not needed. A little compost in spring is enough; soil that is too rich makes the clump floppy.

Combing

In spring, pull the dead, brown leaves out of the clump with gloves or a hand rake. Do not cut it short.

Flower heads

Leave them: they look good until autumn. Cut them off at the base in February–March.

Dividing

An old clump that goes bare in the middle is divided in spring, every 3–5 years.

Tip: Comb out the dead leaves with gloves in spring and do not cut it short: this keeps the evergreen clump full and healthy. Plant it in full sun on free-draining soil.

Atlas fescue: when to prune it?

When: Do not prune. Just pull the dead leaves out of the clump in March–April.

How:

• Comb through the clump with gloves or a hand rake: the dead, brown leaves come loose.
• Cut the spent flower stems off at the base in late winter.
• Do not cut the clump itself short: it recovers poorly and may stay bare.

Caution: Never cut it hard back like deciduous grasses: an evergreen clump recovers poorly from this.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In March–April or September: lift the clump, divide it into pieces with roots and replant them straight away. Do this every 3–5 years, especially when the middle goes bare.

Seed

Possible in spring in pots at 15–20 °C, but the clumps grow slowly. Division is simpler.

Atlas fescue: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −20 °C.

• Fully hardy down to about −20 °C: no protection needed in Flanders.
• Wet feet are the danger. Ensure good drainage and leave the foliage standing: it protects the crown.
• In a pot: stand it against a sheltered wall and make sure surplus water can drain away.

Diseases and pests

• Bare centre: An old clump dies out in the middle. Divide it in spring and replant the living outer pieces.
• Winter wet: Rotting crown or a brown clump after a wet winter. Improve the drainage and plant on a slight mound.
• Rust: Orange pustules on the leaves in a damp summer. Pull out affected leaves and keep the clump airy.
• Floppy clump: Falls open in shade or too-rich soil. Give full sun and do not feed.

Through the year

• February: Cut spent flower stems off at the base.
• March: Pull dead leaves out of the clump. Plant or divide.
• April: Plant or divide. Water in dry weather.
• May: Plant. The flower stems grow.
• June: Flowering begins.
• July: Full flower. Drought tolerant.
• August: Flowering ends. Leave the heads standing.
• September: Dividing is still possible. Leave the heads standing.
• October: Leave the heads standing. Do not prune.
• November: Dormant. Make sure drainage is good.

Did you know?

• The species is named after René Maire (1878–1949), a French botanist who did a great deal of research in North Africa.
• Festuca comes from the Latin word for a stalk or a straw.
• The genus Festuca has several hundred species, from small blue tufts to large grey-green clumps like this one.