Festuca cinerea, commonly known as Blue Fescue, is a semi-evergreen perennial grass native to open, rocky places in Europe, particularly in France and Italy. It typically grows to a height and width of approximately 0.8 feet (0.2 meters), forming dense, dome-shaped tufts of fine, blue-gray foliage. Blue Fescue is valued for its striking, fine-textured, silver-blue leaves that provide year-round interest, especially in winter when many other plants are dormant. The plant produces inflorescences of greenish-brown flowers in early to mid-summer, which are not particularly showy but add a subtle texture to the garden.

Blue Fescue is popular in cultivation for its compact size and distinctive color, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens, border fronts, and as a ground cover. It is also used in container plantings and urban gardens. This grass prefers full sun and can tolerate a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage. It is drought-tolerant once established, making it suitable for xeriscaping. Blue Fescue requires minimal maintenance, but it benefits from being divided every few years to rejuvenate its growth. While generally disease-free, it can suffer from rust in humid conditions and may not thrive in hot, humid climates.CC BY-SA 4.0