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Superba Tufted Fescue

Festuca amethystina 'Superba'

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Superba Tufted Fescue (Festuca amethystina 'Superba') at Chalet Nursery

Superba Tufted Fescue

Superba Tufted Fescue

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Plant Height:  15 inches

Flower Height:  24 inches

Spread:  15 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4

Description:

This fine grass forms mounds of rich sea-green foliage massed together; subtle fall color in tones of pink and burgundy; will tend to have better color when regularily watered; larger than the usual forms available; perfect for edging or the rock garden

Ornamental Features

Superba Tufted Fescue is primarily valued in the garden for its interestingly mounded form. It features delicate panicles of violet catkins rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive grassy leaves are bluish-green in color. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous burgundy in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Superba Tufted Fescue is an herbaceous evergreen perennial grass with a mounded form. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Superba Tufted Fescue is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Superba Tufted Fescue will grow to be about 15 inches tall at maturity extending to 24 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 15 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 8 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to dry locations, and dislikes excessive moisture. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Superba Tufted Fescue is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Rock  Edging  Garden  Naturalizing  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Fruit  Foliage Color  Fall Color  Texture  Plant Form 
Ornamental Features