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Blue Moor Grass

Sesleria caerulea (ses-LER-ee-ah se-ROO-lee-ah)

Family: Poaceae Non-native Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

A cool-season ornamental grass in the Poaceae family, which is native to rich alkaline soils in meadows and forests in Europe. It has attractive blue-green leaves that provide year-round interest. It does not take foot traffic very well but in low traffic areas, this plant makes a good lawn alternative. Plant in in border fronts, along pathways, in small spaces or among spring bulbs. This grass tolerates air pollution, drought, and being planted near black walnut trees. Form: Loose Tufts Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 42 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft) Optimal soil pH Alkaline (>8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Hosta 'Halcyon' Liriope muscari 'Silvery Sunproof' Thymus pseudolanuginosus
Native alternatives Schizachyrium scoparium

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ground Cover; Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Erect; Mounding
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Sheath
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Narrow, twisting leaves with powdery blue underside and green upper side
Flower color
Black; Gold/Yellow; Green; Purple/Lavender
Flower form
Insignificant; Panicle; Spike
Flower detail
Narrow spikes of greenish flowers in spring give way to silvery inflorescences
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe and British Isles
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Lawn; Meadow; Riparian; Small Space; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#evergreen #border planting #air pollution tolerant #lawn alternative #low maintenance #drought tolerant #border front #groundcovers that can be mowed #foot traffic tolerant #colorful leaves #edging #mass planting #year-round interest #small spaces #black walnut toxicity tolerant #meadow #woodland #blue leaves #walkway
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Black Walnut; Deer; Drought; Pollution

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.