Red Fescue Festuca rubra
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- fes-TOO-kuh ROO-brah
- Description
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Creeping red fescue is a member of the grass family (Poaceae) native to the Northern Hemisphere.It is found all over the world in meadows, dunes, and open woodlands and is tolerant of many climates. The genus name, Festuca, is Latin for "stem or stalk." The species epithet, rubra, is Latin for "red."
Creeping red fescue is a cool-season bunching grass that goes dormant in the summer. It is used by both wild and domestic animals for forage. It has an arching upright fountain habit and spreads quickly by creeping rhizomes. It is resistant to browsing by deer.
As a cool-season lawn grass, creeping red fescue is one most fine-textured turfgrasses available. It is highly tolerant of shade and is resilient. It can be mowed or left natural for a meadow look.
For more information, please see the NC State Extension TurfFiles entry for Fine Fescues. - See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Festuca
- Species:
- rubra
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern Hemisphere to Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Supports moths and butterflies.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Turfgrass
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Creeping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
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Leaves:
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Foot Traffic
