Kingdom Plantae Family Poaceae Scientific name Festuca californica Rank Species | Order Poales Genus Festuca Higher classification Fescues | |
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Similar Fescues, Grasses, Festuca idahoensis, Muhlenbergia rigens, Nassella pulchra | ||
Festuca californica is a species of grass known by the common name California fescue.
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This fescue species is native to the U.S. states of California and Oregon, where it is a member of many plant communities, including chaparral and oak woodlands.
Description
Festuca californica is a clumping perennial bunch grass, without rhizomes, that grows in greenish gray tufts.
It reaches anywhere from 1.5–4.5 feet (0.46–1.37 m) in height, and 1.5–3.5 feet (0.46–1.07 m) in width. The green-gray leaves are narrow, and can reach 2 feet (0.61 m) long.
The inflorescence, on stems reaching up to 6 feet (180 cm), holds spikelets, which are each 1 to 2 centimeters long. The flowers are in large open sprays, in the spring and summer. The plant reproduces from seed and from buds located at the base of the clump.
Cultivation
Festuca californica is cultivated as an ornamental grass by specialty plant nurseries, for planting in traditional gardens and as a potted plant, for drought tolerant and wildlife gardens, and for natural landscaping projects.
It is planted under Coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) in gardens, being a drought tolerant understory not requiring summer watering that can endanger the trees. It is also planted in landscapes for slope stabilization and erosion control, due to its deep and dense network of roots.
Cultivars
Cultivars are grown, with different foliage color and texture aesthetic variations, they include:
Restoration
In ecological restoration projects, Festuca californica is used with other local native grasses for restoring California coastal prairie habitats.