How big does Volga fescue grow?

About 30 cm × 30 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 20–40 cm × 20–40 cm.

What soil does Volga fescue grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

How much water does Volga fescue need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Volga fescue

Festuca valesiaca

Volga fescue (Festuca valesiaca) is an ornamental grass that reaches 30 cm × 30 cm after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Drought tolerance: high.

Illustration of Volga fescue — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Volga fescue is a native grass of dry loess and steppe grasslands, and in gardens its blue-leaved forms ('Glaucantha', 'Silbersee') are the ones usually grown: needle-fine steel-blue to silvery leaves form a dense, domed tuft that stays attractive in winter, with slim pale green flower heads ageing to straw colour in May and June. It looks best in full sun and lean, loose, limy or sandy soil and takes heat and drought without watering, so it suits edging, rock and gravel gardens, steppe and prairie-style plantings and pots. Keep it out of heavy, wet ground, and divide it every two or three years, as the centre of the clump thins out with age.

Watch out for

The centre of the clump thins out and dies after a few years; when that happens, divide and replant it in spring. It rots in heavy soil that stays wet in winter, so on clay plant it only into a gritty, sandy top layer or a raised bed. In shade and in rich, fertilised soil the blue colour fades and the clump falls open. Blue fescue names are often mixed up in the trade, so check the exact Latin name when you buy.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Low
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 30 cm × 30 cm
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–July, green

Group	Ornamental grass
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	30 cm × 30 cm
Ultimate size	20–40 cm × 20–40 cm
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	May–July, green
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	30 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 19, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Evergreen plants Plants for containers Ornamental grasses Plants for a Mediterranean garden Rock garden plants