Red Fescue
Festuca rubra
Also known as: Sand Fescue
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Aleutian Is., Algeria, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krym, Kuril Is., Labrador, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Prince Edward I., Romania, Russia, Sicilia, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 12:31, 9 September 2006 (UTC)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Festuca
- Species:
- Festuca rubra
- USDA Symbol:
- FERU2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- green
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- Lawn Substitute:
- Yes
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Pediasia trisecta, topiary grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia topiaria), Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rhizomes and basal buds after fire; tolerates periodic burning typical of grassland management.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained, sandy or loamy
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in coastal and temperate grasslands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 10–21 days
- Notes:
- Germinates readily without pretreatment. Optimal germination at 15-20°C.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Soak seeds in fresh water for 2 hours and stratify in peat moss and vermiculite for 3 weeks or until seeds begin to germinate.
Establishment: Seeds are collected between May 1st and July 31st. Mature inflorescences and seeds are light brown. The species is found in northern temperate regions of the world and in North America south to Georgia, Arizona, Colorado, and California.
Source: npn.rngr.net