Greenland Fescue

Festuca brachyphylla

Native to:
Aleutian Is., Canada, China, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Labrador, Russia, Svalbard, Sweden, Tadzhikistan

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Poaceae
Genus:
Festuca
Species:
Festuca brachyphylla
USDA Symbol:
FEGR2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Graminoid
Height:
25 cm
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Arctic woolly bear moth (Gynaephora groenlandica), Miriama's skipper (Hesperia miriamae), Sandhill Skipper (Polites sabuleti)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from basal meristems following fire; typical of alpine and arctic bunchgrasses.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Light may improve germination. Cool temperatures preferred.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI