Plant Profile: Sesleria caerulea

Taxonomy: Sesleria caerulea

Names

Blue Moor Grass

  • Photo of Sesleria caerulea (Sesleria caeruleas)

Phonetic Spelling:ses-LER-ee-ah se-ROO-lee-ah

Genus:Sesleria

Species:caerulea

Family:Poaceae

This ornamental grass, belonging to the Poaceae family, thrives in cool seasons and is indigenous to the nutrient-rich alkaline soils found in European meadows and forests. Its striking blue-green foliage offers visual appeal throughout the year. While it does not withstand heavy foot traffic well, it serves as an excellent alternative to traditional lawns in low-traffic areas. Ideal planting locations include the front of borders, along pathways, in compact spaces, or interspersed with spring bulbs. This grass is resilient, capable of withstanding air pollution, drought conditions, and proximity to black walnut trees.

Growth Habit: Loose Tufts

Pests, Diseases, and Other Issues: No significant concerns.

Sesleria caerulea Feature Summary

Sesleria caerulea Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#small spaces
#drought tolerant
#lawn alternative
#colorful leaves
#low maintenance
#mass planting
#air pollution tolerant
#year-round interest
#edging
#blue-green leaves
#forests
#borders
#border front
#walkways
#groundcovers that can be mowed
#foot traffic tolerant
#black walnut toxicity tolerant
#meadows
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Sesleria caerulea is often confused with:

Sesleria caerulea Feature Summary

Attributes
Europe and British Isles
Perennial
Flowers
Narrow spikes of greenish flowers in spring give way to silvery inflorescences
Purple/Lavender
Gold/Yellow
Green
Black
Insignificant
Spike
Panicle
Leaves
Narrow, twisting leaves with powdery blue underside and green upper side
Green
Blue
> 6 inches
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Ground Cover
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Arching
Erect
Mounding
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
High Organic Matter
Fruit
Caryopsis
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Drought
Deer
Pollution
Black Walnut
Container
Walkways
Woodland
Lawn
Meadow
Small Space
Riparian

Sesleria caerulea Attributes

Sesleria caerulea: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe and British Isles

Sesleria caerulea: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Sesleria caerulea Flowers

Sesleria caerulea: Flower Description

Narrow spikes of greenish flowers in spring give way to silvery inflorescences

Sesleria caerulea: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Black
filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Sesleria caerulea: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Sesleria caerulea: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Sesleria caerulea Leaves

Sesleria caerulea: Leaf Description

Narrow, twisting leaves with powdery blue underside and green upper side

Sesleria caerulea: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Green

Sesleria caerulea: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Sesleria caerulea: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Sesleria caerulea: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Sesleria caerulea: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Sesleria caerulea: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Sesleria caerulea: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Sesleria caerulea: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Sesleria caerulea: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Sesleria caerulea Whole Plant Traits

Sesleria caerulea: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Sesleria caerulea: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Sesleria caerulea: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Sesleria caerulea Cultural Conditions

Sesleria caerulea: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Sesleria caerulea: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Sesleria caerulea: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Sesleria caerulea: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Sesleria caerulea: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Sesleria caerulea: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Sesleria caerulea Fruit

Sesleria caerulea: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Sesleria caerulea Stem

Sesleria caerulea: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Sesleria caerulea Landscape

Sesleria caerulea: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Sesleria caerulea: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Sesleria caerulea: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Sesleria caerulea: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland