Casca11

Blue Fescue

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Elijah Blue' and 'Blue Whiskers'

Summary: The plants of 'Casca11' are taller than those of both reference varieties. The leaf of 'Casca11' is of moderate stiffness while that of both reference varieties are very stiff. The leaf blade of 'Casca11' is longer than that of both reference varieties. In the spring, the young leaf of 'Casca 11' is dark green while it is light green for that of 'Elijah Blue' and medium brown green for that of 'Blue Whiskers'. In the spring, the upper side of the leaf blade of 'Casca11' is mainly dark grey green while it is mainly medium grey green for that of both reference varieties. In the spring, the lower side of the leaf blade of 'Casca11' is mainly dark green at the midline of the leaf blade with dark grey green towards the margins while that of 'Elijah Blue' is mainly medium brown green at the midline of the leaf blade with medium grey green towards the margins, and that of 'Blue Whiskers' is mainly dark brown green at the midline of the leaf blade with medium grey green towards the margins. The leaf of 'Casca11' has a strong degree of glaucosity whereas that of 'Elijah Blue' has a medium degree of glaucosity.

Description:

PLANT: vegetatively propogated, perennial type, bushy-rounded growth habit, medium vigour, dense foliage

LEAF SHEATH: medium pubescence
LEAF: moderate stiffness, strong glaucosity
LEAF BLADE: linear shape, acuminate apex, entire margin, main colour of young leaf in spring closest to dark green (RHS 137A)
LEAF BLADE (UPPER SIDE): main colour in spring closest to dark grey green (RHS N189C), mainly greyish blue-green in summer
LEAF BLADE (LOWER SIDE): main colour in spring dark green (RHS 139A) at midline of blade with dark grey green (RHS N189C) towards margin, mainly greyish blue-green in summer

Origin & Breeding History: 'Casca11' was discovered as a naturally occuring chimera mutation of the Festuca glauca variety 'Elijah Blue' in 2002 in Haarsteeg, the Netherlands. 'Casca11' was selected based on foliage colour, colour retention, plant growth habit, as well as heat, humidity and drought tolerance. Asexual reproduction of 'Casca11' was first conducted by division in 2004 in Haarsteeg, the Netherlands.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Casca11' was conducted in an outdoor container trial during the summer of 2023 in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 10 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings, transplanted into 7.6 liter pots in 2021, and split in 2022. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or 10 parts of plants of the candidate variety and 8 plants or 8 parts of plants of the reference varieties on August 21, 2023. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Casca11' with reference varieties 'Elijah Blue' and 'Blue Whiskers'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf blade length (cm)

Young leaf blade colour in spring (RHS)

Main colour of leaf blade in spring (RHS)

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Blue Fescue: 'Casca11' (left) with reference varieties 'Blue Whiskers' (centre) and 'Elijah Blue' (right)

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Blue Fescue: 'Casca11' (left) with reference varieties 'Elijah Blue' (centre) and 'Blue Whiskers' (right)