Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Festuca occidentalis is a species of grass known by the common name western fescue. It is native to much of the northern half of North America and is most widely distributed in the west. It is most often found in forest and woodland habitat. This fescue is a densely or loosely clumping grass with very thin stems reaching maximum heights of around one meter. The soft leaves reach up to about 25 centimeters in length and are somewhat hairlike. The flower cluster has one or two very thin branches bearing spikelets 6 to 12 millimeters long. There are no rhizomes.

Plant type

Grass

Size

3 - 4 ft Tall

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Moderate

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Deer resistant, Groundcover

Sun

Partial Shade

Water

Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil description

Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones

4*, 5*, 6*, 7, 14, 15*, 16*, 17*, 21, 22, 23, 24

Site type

Open places

Plant communities

Douglas-Fir Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Red Fir Forest, Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 10 likely

Confirmed Likely

Snowy-veined Apamea Moth

Apamea niveivenosa

Common Ringlet

Coenonympha tullia

Lindsey's Skipper

Hesperia lindseyi