Blue Dune Lyme Grass

Where to Plant

• Sunlight: Aim for at least six hours of direct sun daily to maintain the striking, intense blue color; while it accepts partial shade, the foliage will be a duller green and the habit may become leggier.
• Soil: This plant is extremely unfussy and actually prefers poor, lean, well-draining soil, making it perfect for sandy, dry sites, or coastal environments. If you have heavy clay, make sure to significantly amend the area with coarse grit and compost, as this grass will rot if kept in soggy conditions.

Watering Requirements

Water consistently through its first full season to help the root system establish itself; a deep soaking once a week without rain is sufficient. Once mature, Blue Dune Lyme Grass is very drought-tolerant, and overwatering is a much greater risk than underwatering. If water is consistently scarce during a heatwave, you may notice some brown, stressed leaf tips, which signals it is time for a thorough drink.

Pruning Tips

This ornamental grass is grown for its foliage, so the best time to prune is in late winter or very early spring before the new blue shoots appear. Use sharp shears to cut all the old, brown canes down hard to within a few inches of the ground, around 3 to 6 inches tall. This annual haircut removes all the tired growth from the previous season and paves the way for a fresh, vigorous flush of its signature blue foliage.

Fertilizer Needs

This hardy grass is a light feeder and generally does not need supplemental fertilizer, as it thrives in lean soil. If you feel growth is particularly slow in extremely poor conditions, apply a light, slow-release balanced granular fertilizer, like a 10-10-10 blend, just once in the very early spring. What you want to avoid is high-nitrogen fertilizer, especially applied in summer, as this encourages soft, floppy green growth rather than the tough, upright blue texture you desire.