Festuca californica (California Fescue)

Long-lived, Festuca californica (California Fescue) is a semi-evergreen, fountain-like perennial grass forming a mound of gracefully drooping, pale green to blue-green leaves, up to 24 in. tall (60 cm). In spring and early summer, elegant flowering stems rise up to 1-2 ft. (30-60 cm) above the foliage. They boast delicate gray-blue sprays turning to a wheat color over time. Native to the Coast Ranges from Northern California and Oregon, this handsome ornamental grass is mostly grown for its tidy foliage, which brings interest to the landscape year-round in warm winter areas. Aside from its foliage interest, it is drought tolerant once established, virtually trouble-free, and requires little maintenance. Use as a specimen or massed as a groundcover. It can be planted in large drifts on slopes for erosion control. It is a good understory plant to California native oaks.

• Grows up to 1-4 ft. tall (30-120 cm) and 2-3 ft. wide (60-90 cm).
• Performs best in full sun or part shade in dry to moist, well-drained loamy or clay, soils. Grows poorly in sandy soils, but tolerates serpentine soils. Drought tolerant, although it looks better with some summer water.
• This is a great candidate for beds and borders or as a groundcover.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Deer resistant.
• Remove damaged foliage for a neat planting.
• Propagate by seed (no treatment).
• Native to California and Oregon.