The ornamental grass Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) is a popular choice for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant with striking silvery-blue foliage. This dense, mounding perennial brings year-round texture and unique color contrast to garden designs. Blue Fescue is generally considered highly resistant to deer damage, meaning deer typically bypass this species for more palatable forage. This makes it a reliable component in landscapes located near natural habitats.
The Characteristics That Deter Deer
Deer possess a delicate palate and prefer soft, high-moisture vegetation that is easy to chew and digest. Blue Fescue, like most ornamental grasses, is avoided due to its tough, highly fibrous structure. The fine, needle-shaped blades are not tender, making them an unappealing food source. This unpalatability is linked to silica within the leaf structure, which creates a gritty, abrasive texture that is difficult and irritating for the deer to chew.
The nutritional reward offered by Festuca glauca is low compared to other available plants. Deer seek protein and moisture-rich food, and the dry, tough nature of mature Blue Fescue foliage provides minimal return on the effort required to graze. The dense, tufted growth habit also works as a deterrent, since deer tend to avoid pushing through thick clumps of abrasive material.
When Deer Might Still Graze
While Blue Fescue is highly deer-resistant, resistance can fail under specific environmental conditions. The primary factor that overrides a deer’s natural avoidance is extreme food scarcity. During severe drought, heavy snow cover, or in areas with high deer population density, animals will graze on plants they normally ignore out of sheer necessity. In these situations, any available green matter becomes a potential food source.
Deer may sample the foliage when the plant is newly established or producing tender new growth in early spring. This young, less-fibrous tissue is softer and lacks the abrasive quality of mature blades. Although deer may nibble on new shoots, they rarely cause significant damage to a healthy, established clump. When damage occurs, it is minor and the plant recovers well.
Strategies for a Deer-Resistant Landscape
Incorporating Blue Fescue into a broader defense strategy maximizes its effectiveness as a deterrent. Strategic placement of the grass can help protect more vulnerable plants in the garden. Planting dense clumps of fescue along borders or in front of preferred deer food creates a physical and textural barrier that deer are reluctant to cross.
Gardeners can also combine Festuca glauca with other deer-resistant plants that rely on different deterrents, such as strong scents. Pairing the abrasive texture of Blue Fescue with fragrant companion plants like lavender, catmint, or Russian sage provides a compound defense. The unpleasant texture combined with a strong smell doubles the rejection signal to browsing animals. Mass plantings are effective for Blue Fescue, as a large grouping creates a striking visual impact while presenting a formidable barrier to deer. If browsing is a persistent issue, applying a commercial deer repellent directly to the foliage is an effective temporary measure, especially during times of scarcity. Rotating between taste-based and scent-based repellents prevents deer from becoming accustomed to a single product.