Festuca 'Sunrise'

Festuca 'Sunrise' is a neat little fescue with a surprisingly dramatic streak, forming tufted cushions of fine, blue-green foliage that looks cool and composed through spring and summer. Then, as autumn edges in, the leaf tips glow coppery red, as though the plant has caught the low evening sun and decided to keep it. Compact, textural and quietly stylish, Festuca 'Sunrise' is ideal for edging paths, softening gravel gardens or threading through sunny borders where structure is needed without heaviness. This perennial grass also partners beautifully with salvias, sedums and late-flowering perennials, its slim blades bringing movement and a pleasingly natural rhythm.

In summer, Festuca 'Sunrise' sends up flame-tinted stems topped with airy, feathery flowers in warm, fiery tones, adding height without disturbing its elegant, mounded outline. It thrives in a sunny spot with well-drained soil, where its colouring is at its brightest and its low-maintenance character can truly shine. Use Festuca 'Sunrise' in repeating drifts for a polished designer effect, or dot it among stones and drought-tolerant planting for something more relaxed and painterly. Evergreen to semi-evergreen in many gardens, Festuca glauca 'Sunrise' offers year-round texture, a dash of seasonal mischief, and the sort of subtle colour shift that rewards anyone who notices the details.