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blue tussock grass

Blue tussock grass is one of the most stunning ornamental grasses available to New Zealand gardeners. With its fine, arching foliage in shades of silver-blue and steely grey, blue tussock grass is prized for the vibrant contrast and texture it brings to both native gardens and contemporary landscapes. It thrives in a wide range of conditions, needing little maintenance once established, making it perfect for mass planting, border edging, rock gardens, and container displays.

Lomandra Frosty Tops with lush blue foliage in a garden.

Lomandra Frosty Tops

5 from 2 customers

Lomandra Frosty Tops is a hardy, evergreen grass featuring elegant, blue-grey foliage and a soft, weeping form. Growing to around 50 cm tall and wide, it performs well in full sun or partial shade and tolerates drought, frost, wind, and coastal exposure. This low-maintenance variety is ideal for mass plantings, borders, containers, and contemporary New Zealand garden designs.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Grasses
Height: 50 cm
Spread: 50 cm
Flowering time: Spring
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Containers, Living areas, Parks, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas, Specimen
Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern
Lomandra 'Arctic Frost' plant in a pot with variegated foliage.

Lomandra Arctic Frost

Lomandra Arctic Frost is a hardy ornamental grass featuring variegated blue and cream foliage held upright with a gentle arch. Growing to approximately 40 cm in height and width, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and is highly tolerant of drought, frost, wind, and coastal conditions. This low-maintenance plant is ideal for mass plantings, borders, containers, and around outdoor living areas, adding year-round texture and colour to New Zealand gardens.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Grasses
Height: 40 cm
Spread: 40 cm
Flowering time: Spring
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern
Lomandra 'Seascape' grass with elegant, blue-green foliage growing beside a pond.
Lomandra confertifolia Seascape

Lomandra confertifolia 'Seascape' is a hardy, evergreen ornamental grass featuring slender, blue-grey foliage with a graceful, weeping habit. Forming...

From$19.25
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Juncus 'Blue Dart' (Blue Rush)

Juncus 'Blue Dart' is a striking ornamental rush prized for its upright blue green foliage and strong architectural form. This hardy evergreen plant...

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Carex secta plants growing as a border garden in a commercial car park.
Carex secta (Swamp Sedge)

Carex secta, commonly known as Pukio, is a striking New Zealand native sedge admired for its large, tussock forming habit and golden green foliage...

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Phlebodium aureum Blue Star (Blue Star Fern)

The Blue Star Fern features wavy leaves that are a blue-green colour. This popular indoor plant grows as a clump to about 30 cm tall and the same...

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Dianella revoluta 'Little Rev' plants in a garden.
Dianella 'Little Rev'

Dianella 'Little Rev' (Blue Flax Lily) is a compact and hardy ornamental grass like plant valued for its attractive blue green foliage and tidy...

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Poa cita grass plants on a plateau overlooing the sea.
Poa cita

Poa cita, commonly known as Silver Tussock, is a clump-forming NZ native grass with delicate, green foliage that wafts gracefully in the breeze. It...

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Pittosporum 'Wrinkled Blue' speciment tree.
Pittosporum 'Wrinkled Blue'

Pittosporum ‘Wrinkled Blue’ is an attractive, upright evergreen tree known for its distinctive blue-grey foliage and dense, columnar growth habit...

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Libertia paniculata plant with white flowers.
Libertia paniculata (Grass Flag)

Libertia paniculata is an elegant evergreen perennial admired for its fine, upright foliage and delicate white flowers that appear in airy clusters...

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Ophiopogon japonicus (Green Mondo Grass) growing as a groundcover in a woodland garden.
Ophiopogon japonicus

Ophiopogon japonicus, commonly known as green Mondo Grass, is a striking ornamental grass. It grows as a clump and produces a dense tuft of...

From$8.97
Podocarpus 'Matapouri Blue' hedge.
Podocarpus Matapouri Blue (Blue Tōtara)

Podocarpus ‘Matapouri Blue’, also known as Blue Totara, is a stunning New Zealand native tree prized for its striking blue-green foliage and tidy...

From$30.29
Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter' plants with fine and elegant, blue foliage.
Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter'

Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter', commonly known as Pinatoro or the NZ Daphne plant, is a mat-forming, NZ native, ground cover plant. It has small...

From$23.39
Stunning, dark blue flowers on Salvia 'Blue Angel].
Salvia 'Blue Angel'

Salvia 'Blue Angel' is a beautiful perennial known for its soft blue flower spikes that appear generously across summer and autumn in New Zealand...

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Anemanthele lessoniana grass with colourful, orange and green foliage growing in a pot.
Anemanthele lessoniana (Pheasant's Tail Grass)

Anemanthele lessoniana, also known as Pheasant's Tail Grass or New Zealand Wind Grass, is a graceful, clump-forming ornamental grass native to New...

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Prostanthera 'Eddington Blue'

Prostanthera 'Eddington Blue' is a stunning evergreen shrub admired for its masses of vibrant blue mauve flowers and highly aromatic foliage. This...

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Zebra grass (Miscanthus 'Zebrinus') leaves with cream and green stripes.
Miscanthus 'Zebrinus'

Miscanthus 'Zebrinus' (Zebra Grass) is a striking ornamental grass recognised for its bold horizontal yellow banding across arching green leaves...

From$22.01
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Isolepis cernua (Fiber-Optic Grass)

Isolepsis cernua (aka Scirpus cernua), commonly known as Fiber Optic Grass, grows as a tidy clump to about 25 cm tall and the same wide with green...

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Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens (Black Mondo) plants with lush, black foliage.
Ophiopogon japonicus nigrescens

Ophiopogon japonicus nigrescens, commonly known as Black Mondo Grass, is a clump-forming plant with fine, near black foliage. The foliage is...

From$8.97
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Cymbopogon citratus (Lemongrass)

Cymbopogon citratus (aka Andropogon citratus), commonly known as Lemongrass Grass or Citronella Grass, grows as a clump and produces flavoursome and...

From$20.63
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Eucalyptus Baby Blue (Silver Gum)

Eucalyptus 'Baby Blue' is a highly popular evergreen tree admired for its stunning silver blue foliage and strong ornamental appeal. The rounded...

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Lomandra longifolia plant beside a path with lush, green foliage.
Lomandra longifolia (Basket Grass)

Lomandra longifolia (Basket Grass) is a resilient, evergreen ornamental grass native to Australia. Growing to approximately 60 cm in height and 65 cm...

From$17.87
Lomandra 'Echidna' grass growing as a mass planting beside a path.
Lomandra Echidna

The Lomandra Echidna grass is a tough and reliable plant with outstanding aesthetics. It features lush, mid-green foliage held upright with a gentle...

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Cupressus 'Blue Ice' (Blue Arizona Cypress)

Cupressus 'Blue Ice' is a striking evergreen conifer admired for its vibrant icy blue foliage and strong upright growth habit. This hardy tree...

From$82.92
An elegant Miscanthus sinensis grass with cream-coloured flower plumes and lush green foliage.
Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus sinensis is an ornamental grass that grows as a clump of narrow, arching, green leaves. The colouring gives a light silver-green effect to...

From$22.01
Large Jacaranda mimosifolia tree with blue flowers.
Jacaranda mimosifolia (Blue Jacaranda)

Jacaranda mimosifolia, commonly known as the Blue Jacaranda tree, is a tropical-looking tree that is widely planted because of its beautiful and...

From$50.99
Lomandra Green Allure plant with lush, green foliage.
Lomandra Green Allure

Lomandra Green Allure is widely used in landscaping projects across NZ. It is commonly mass planted as a ground cover or on a bank, included in...

From$19.25
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Iris Ceasers Brother (Siberian Iris)

“Caesars Brother” is a variety of Siberian Iris that produces spectacular flowers. The showy, dark blue blooms are borne atop sturdy stems in spring...

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Eucalyptus Blue Ice (Gum)

“Blue Ice” is a variety of Eucalyptus grown for its colourful foliage. The leaves on juvenile trees are rounded, powdery-blue, and held densely. As...

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Ophiopogon japonicus Silver Mist grass in a garden.
Ophiopogon Silver Mist (Silver Mondo Grass)

Ophiopogon 'Silver Mist' is a dwarf silver Mondo Grass, and features fine, grass-like foliage that is variegated dark green and white. It typically...

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Liriope muscari 'Blue Skies' plant with blue flowers and green foliage in a garden.
Liriope 'Blue Skies'

Liriope 'Blue Skies' is a blue-flowering Liriope that forms a tidy clump and features strap-like, dark green leaves. Flower spikes rise above the...

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Dianella Goddess

Dianella Goddess is a variety of the commonly known, NZ Flax Lily, and produces upright, strap-like leaves which are a rich, dark green with a blue...

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Lomandra Frosty Tops

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Anemanthele, Carex, Cupressus, Cymbopogon, Dianella, Eucalyptus, Iris, Isolepis, Jacaranda, Juncus, Libertia, Liriope, Lomandra, Miscanthus, Ophiopogon, Phlebodium, Pimelea, Pittosporum, Poa, Podocarpus Prostanthera and Salvia, or related Categories - Conifer Trees, Flaxes, Grasses, Mondo Grass, Groundcover Plants, Indoor Plants, Perennials, Iris Plants, Evergreen Shrubs Deciduous Trees and Evergreen Trees.

Search blue tussock grass

What is Blue Tussock Grass?

Blue tussock grass generally refers to cultivar selections of Festuca species renowned for their cool-toned foliage and tidy, compact form. The foliage forms neat mounds, often less than 40 cm high and wide, and is highly valued for year-round colour. One of the most popular and hardy choices in New Zealand is Festuca actae (Blue Tussock), a fantastic pick for home and commercial gardens alike.

Uses for Blue Tussock Grass in the Garden

The versatility of blue tussock grass makes it a real asset for New Zealand landscapes. Its fine, airy blades soften hardscape edges, fill difficult-to-plant spaces, and pair beautifully with flowering perennials. Here are a few creative uses:

Best Companion Grasses

For those wanting a layered, textural garden, blue tussock grass is easily matched with other ornamental grasses. Some top choices include Austrostipa stipoides (Spear Grass) for coastal-inspired gardens, Lomandra Arctic Frost for a bolder contrast, and Juncus Blue Dart (Blue Rush) for moisture-retentive sites or rain gardens.

How to Care for Blue Tussock Grass

One of the best features of blue tussock grass is its low maintenance requirements. It performs best in full sun to light shade and thrives in well-draining soil. Once established, blue tussock grass is notably drought-tolerant, needing only occasional watering in prolonged dry spells. Pruning is as simple as raking out old leaves in late winter to keep the mound tidy.

Shop Blue Tussock Grass and Related Varieties

Ready to add blue tussock grass to your garden? Browse our range of hardy options, including Festuca actae (Blue Tussock), Carex 'Blue Cascade' (Blue Sedge Grass), Austrostipa stipoides (Spear Grass), Lomandra Arctic Frost, and Juncus Blue Dart (Blue Rush) to find the perfect plant for your landscape. Blue tussock grass is a timeless choice, guaranteed to bring style and function to any New Zealand garden.


Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

You’ve probably heard of our garden favourites like Ficus benjamina variegata and Anemanthele lessoniana (Pheasant's Tail Grass), but did you know we also grow hidden gems like Acer 'Shidava Gold', Orange 'Cara Cara', and Tradescantia pallida?
–The Plant Company

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