Rough Fescue
Festuca campestris
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
iNaturalist: © viktoria_wagner (iNaturalist #82213563)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Festuca
- Species:
- Festuca campestris
- USDA Symbol:
- FECA4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- tan
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from basal buds following fire; historically maintained by periodic grassland fires.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy to loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to grasslands and open forests
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with cold stratification and light exposure.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: Seed collection occurs mid July to early August when caryopsis are light tan, at the hard dough stage, and not yet shattering from the compressed panicle. One collection hour/person will yield an average 1,073 grams clean seed.
Source: npn.rngr.net