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Leymus arenarius Blue Dune

Leymus arenarius Blue Dune
Lyme Grass, European Dune Grass, Sand Lyme Grass

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A bluish grass with luminous foliage, of steel blue, whose blue-grey floral spikes turn straw yellow when ripe. This magnificent grass with trailing rhizomes forms large, slightly arched tufts bristling with summer inflorescences similar to those of wheat.  These are very decorative. Fully hardy, this plant is perfectly suited to sandy and salty soils. Superb in flower beds or as groundcover, it is also spectacular when planted in a border or in large pots on the patio.
Flower size
25 cm
Height at maturity
80 cm
Spread at maturity
1 m
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -23°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May, September to November
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Flowering time June to August
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Description

Leymus arenarius 'Blue Dune' is a beautiful variety of Lyme Grass with steel blue foliage, even more decorative than this superb grass of the wild dunes. This plant is an intrepid conqueror, whose stump, equipped with trailing rhizomes, is capable of quickly colonising space. Forming large luminous tufts, it is adorned in summer with pretty flower spikes ranging from grey-blue to straw yellow at maturity. It is superb in flower beds or as groundcover. It is also spectacular when planted in a border or in large pots on the patio.

 

Leymus arenarius, also known as Sand Lyme Grass, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the large family of grasses. It is mainly found in Asia, North America, and central Europe, in boreal climates, on sandy and salty soils, which are often arid. 

Reaching 1.30 m (4ft) when flowering, this 'Blue Dune' variety quickly forms large tufts of foliage, measuring 60-70 cm (24-28in) in all directions. Its stump is vigorous, stoloniferous, and creeping. Its stems are stiff, erect, arched and robust. Its leaves, 8 to 15 cm (3 to 6in) wide and 60 cm (24in) long, are flat, ribbon-like, about one centimetre wide, smooth, rolled at the tip, and glaucous in colour. They are covered with a white to silvery bloom which gives them their steel blue colour. The inflorescences appear from June to August, at the ends of the floral stems, and remain on the plant until December. They are long spikes, fifteen to thirty centimetres in length, robust and compact, reminiscent of those of wheat. They display a beautiful blue-silver hue before turning blond at maturity. The foliage yellows and dries in winter.

 

Leymus Arenarius Blue Dune is an ideal plant for coastal areas, especially for stabilising dunes. Stony and dry soils and slightly arid slopes are also a favoured habitat for this grass that tolerates everything. It is also a very ornamental plant in flower beds or borders, as well as for decorating the patio in large flower pots. Due to its tendency to colonise the soil, it is preferable to plant it in a large buried container or use rhizome barriers if you want to use it in large flower beds. It can also be pruned short to achieve a lawn-like groundcover. In flower beds, combine Lyme Grass with low-maintenance asters, double-flowered Hemerocallis fulva Flore Pleno, rudbeckias, or tall sedums.

 

This species is frequently attacked by the Ustilago Hypodytes fungus. No spikes form, instead a large black fungus appears.

 

Leymus arenarius Blue Dune in pictures

Leymus arenarius Blue Dune (Flowering) Flowering
Leymus arenarius Blue Dune (Foliage) Foliage
Leymus arenarius Blue Dune (Plant habit) Plant habit

Flowering

Flower colour grey
Flowering time June to August
Inflorescence Spike
Flower size 25 cm
Good for cut flowers Cut flower blooms

Foliage

Foliage persistence Semi-evergreen
Foliage colour blue
Foliage description The foliage turns yellow in winter, but remains decorative.

Plant habit

Height at maturity 80 cm
Spread at maturity 1 m
Growth rate fast
Suckering/invasive plant

Botanical data

Genus

Leymus

Species

arenarius

Cultivar

Blue Dune

Family

Poaceae

Other common names

Lyme Grass, European Dune Grass, Sand Lyme Grass

Origin

Western Europe

Product reference876261

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Planting and care

Leymus Arenarius Blue Dune enjoys very sunny locations. A plant of cold climates, Leymus arenarius nevertheless withstands hot and dry summers. It prefers a well-drained, light and moderately fertile soil. In nature, it grows in dunes, almost entirely made of pure and salty sand.

Leymus does not require a lot of nutrients, which can encourage lush vegetation at the expense of flowers. A spring application of compost can be beneficial in very poor soils. Grasses are good plants for containers: use a compost based planting mix with 20% sand to lighten it. The foliage can be left until February, as it provides structure and movement in the beds. The plants can then be pruned to 10 cm (4in) above the ground when vegetation starts to grow again.

The presence of a parasite, Ustilago hypodytes, can prevent any flowering and spike formation. This results in the appearance of a large black fungus.

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Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border, Edge of border, Container, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -23°C (USDA zone 6a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 4 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Light

Care

Pruning instructions Prune the dried vegetation at the end of winter.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time February to April
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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