Festuca californica

Also Known As

Festuca hitchcockianus 'Alexeev'
California Fescue
Native Fescue

Plant type

perennial, grass / grass like

size

H: 2'-3'
W: 2'-3'

planting zones

5a-9b

More Options

Festuca californica plant details

Festuca californica is an evergreen perennial grass (or grassy in appearance) with blue and green foliage. In fall and summer cream and green flowers emerge. Features grassy texture. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Festuca californica

Plant type: perennial grass (or grassy in appearance)
Plant family: poaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue and green
Mature size: 2 FT - 3 FT - wide, 2 FT - 3 FT - tall
Flowers: cream and green blooms in fall and summer

GROWING CONDITIONS for Festuca californica

USDA Zones: 5a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture
Resistant to: deer, verticillium wilt
Soil needs: well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

This perennial evergreen bunch grass that grows 2-4' tall and 2-3' wide. An easy to grow plant, it is an excellent choice as a groundcover for slopes among oaks, California bays, or pines. A truly beautiful, mid-sized bunch grass. The graceful, fountain-like, blue-green foliage grows 2' tall. The showy flower stalks rise another 2' above the foliage. Cut back annually to renovate and groom plants with a stiff rakes to remove old foliage and freshen appearance. Drought tolerant, though it looks better with some Summer water. Native to California and Oregon It's fibrous roots make it an excellent slope stabilizer. The Pomo harvested old thatch for roofing their winter houses. Found in chaparral and woodland . Communitites located in Mixed Evergreen Forest, Douglas-Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Chaparral Between 0 and 6000 feet.

By: The Watershed Nursery

Lovely bunch grass native to Oregon and California that has steel blue leaves in 20" clumps followed in late summer/fall by 6' flower spikes which briefly flare with red tones before turning to straw in winter. Well-drained soil in full sun and obviously well adapted here.

By: Far Reaches Farm

A truly beautiful, mid-sized bunch grass native to California (including San Francisco) & Oregon. Graceful, fountain-like, blue-green foliage grows 2’ tall & is evergreen along the coast. The showy flower stalks can rise another 2’ above the foliage. A most excellent groundcover for slopes, it’s easily grown in a variety of soils & grows well in both sun & part shade. Drought tolerant, though it looks better with some Summer water. GOOD UNDER OAKS & deer resistant!