Carried by 54 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
California fescue (Festuca californica) is a fast-growing perennial grass. It grows in clumps that spray out from the center to 3 feet wide and can reach 4 feet tall. The rough leaves are narrow but long, hosting butterflies and moths.
California fescu is often used for revegetating grassland that has been cleared or claimed by non-native grasses. It prefers loamy or clay soils, grows poorly in sandy soils and tolerates serpentine soil. It grows in full sun or part shade and takes very low water. In summer, once established, it can be watered only 3 times per month.
Grass
1 - 4 ft Tall
3 ft Wide
Upright, Fountain
Fast, Moderate
Evergreen
None
Yellow
Spring, Winter
Deer resistant, Groundcover, Lawn alternative
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Very Low
Max 3x / month once established
Easy
Tolerates cold to 30° F
Fast, Medium, Slow
Prefers loamy or clay soils. Grows poorly in sandy soils.
Tolerates serpentine soil..
Soil PH: 6.0 - 7.2
4, 5, 6, 7*, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Open places
Chaparral, Douglas-Fir Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Yellow Pine Forest
This is a large clumping grass, so use with shrubs that won't be overwhelmed by it, such as Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia), larger Ceanothus, Manzanita species, or scrub oaks.
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 8 likely
Yellow-Collared Scape Moth
Cisseps fulvicollis
Common Ringlet
Coenonympha tullia
Lindsey's Skipper
Hesperia lindseyi
Nevada Skipper
Hesperia nevada