q festuca-idahoensis

* Idaho Fescue – Festuca idahoensis (fes-TOO-kuh eye-duh-hoe-EN-sis) Family: Poaceae (Grass Family) Native to: Common western grass; widely distributed in northwestern Northern America. In CA, foothills of the northern Sierras, central and northern Coastal Ranges; dry, open or shady places often opening in woodlands. Growth characteristics: perennial bunchgrass mature height: 1 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft. Cool- season perennial bunchgrass with fine, blue-green foliage. Evergreen with some summer water. May behave more like a slow-growing sod-former in optimal conditions. Very attractive. Blooms/fruits: Blooms in late spring/early summer. Flowers on tall stems above the foliage. Flowers small, but seed heads very showy, particularly when massed. Uses in the garden: Usually used as an ornamental grass grown primarily for its foliage. Great ground cover for erosion control, including on slopes. Can be used as a native meadow and even as a mowed lawn. Tolerates some foot traffic. Good ground cover under trees, in orchards. Cultivars: ‘Tomales Bay’ (small; blue); ‘Stony Creek’ (Blue); ‘Siskiyou Blue’ (dense foliage; blue); ‘Warren Peak’ (taller; silver - green leaves; light flower stems). Sensible substitute for: Non-native fescues and other invasive ornamental grasses. Attracts: Bird habitat: provides nesting materials and seeds. Larval food for Skipper butterflies. Requirements: Element Requirement Sun Best in part-shade (dappled shade ideal); full sun only in cool gardens. Soil Any well-drained soil, but does particularly well in sandy soils; any local pH. Water Very adaptable once established. Zone 1-2 (will turn golden) to Zone 2-3 (to keep it green in summer); quite drought tolerant. Fertilizer Quite tolerant; needs none/rare light fertilizer Other Management: Easy to manage once established. Plant from seed or pugs (probably better). Plant densely (8-10 in. apart) for good cover. Can mow several times during growing season to 4 inches tall. If left un-mowed, rake lightly with rake in fall to remove dead leaves as needed. Propagation: from seed : may need cold treatment by divisions : easy Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 21 1/31/11 * California native, but not native to western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND

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* Idaho Fescue – Festuca idahoensis (fes-TOO-kuh eye-duh-hoe-EN-sis)

Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)

Native to: Common western grass; widely distributed in northwestern Northern America. In CA, foothills of the northern Sierras, central and northern Coastal Ranges; dry, open or shady places often opening in

woodlands.

Growth characteristics: perennial bunchgrass mature height: 1 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft. Cool-season perennial bunchgrass with fine, blue-green foliage. Evergreen with some summer water. May

behave more like a slow-growing sod-former in optimal conditions. Very attractive.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in late spring/early summer. Flowers on tall stems above the foliage. Flowers

small, but seed heads very showy, particularly when massed.

Uses in the garden: Usually used as an ornamental grass grown primarily for its foliage. Great ground

cover for erosion control, including on slopes. Can be used as a native meadow and even as a mowed

lawn. Tolerates some foot traffic. Good ground cover under trees, in orchards. Cultivars: ‘Tomales Bay’ (small; blue); ‘Stony Creek’ (Blue); ‘Siskiyou Blue’ (dense foliage; blue); ‘Warren Peak’ (taller; silver-

green leaves; light flower stems).

Sensible substitute for: Non-native fescues and other invasive ornamental grasses.

Attracts: Bird habitat: provides nesting materials and seeds. Larval food for Skipper butterflies.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Best in part-shade (dappled shade ideal); full sun only in cool gardens.

Soil Any well-drained soil, but does particularly well in sandy soils; any local pH.

Water Very adaptable once established. Zone 1-2 (will turn golden) to Zone 2-3 (to keep it green in summer); quite drought tolerant.

Fertilizer Quite tolerant; needs none/rare light fertilizer

Other

Management: Easy to manage once established. Plant from seed or pugs (probably better). Plant densely (8-10 in. apart) for good cover. Can mow several times during growing season to 4 inches tall.

If left un-mowed, rake lightly with rake in fall to remove dead leaves as needed.

Propagation: from seed: may need cold treatment by divisions: easy

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 21 1/31/11 * California native, but not native to western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND