FESTUCA. Worldwide, in temperate regions. Except for the lawn fescues and the ubiquitous blue fescue, F. cinerea, this group was long ignored for ornamental use. Finally public interest in these and other perennial bunchgrasses seems to be taking off. The following selections make thick hummocks of narrow leaves. Their slender, wand-like flowering stems bear airy sprays of flower and seed heads. Though attractive for border use, they are best appreciated en masse on banks and hillsides, where they can also assist in erosion control. Sun or (for some species) light shade, well drained soil, moderate to no supplemental watering when established. The following should all be hardy to 10oF. or less.
californica ‘Blue Fountain’. California fescue. California fescue is one of the largest of the clan, broadly distributed in California. This is a selection I made in the Mt. Hamilton Range. Like the species as a whole, it is an elegant tall bunchgrass, clumping tightly at the base, with leaves arching to 2’ or more. In this selection the leaves are colored a chalky blue. Graceful flowering stems rise 3-4’ in summer, displaying open sprays of large flower heads. California fescue is among the most shade-tolerant of the group.
idahoensis ‘Warren Peak’. This is a good example of the joys of prowling the backcountry of California. It was just one of many small treasures encountered on a trip to the Warner Mountains, one of our true botanical wonderlands. It makes 6" hummocks of very narrow leaves, bright green at first and becoming greyish green in age. The 1-2’ blooming stems are silvery to pale pink in color. Both these and the glistening seed heads are most attractive. Two more recent kidnappings resulted in ‘Snow Mountain’ and ‘Muse Meadow’, both with bluer foliage. ‘Snow Mountain’ is a robust plant with stems to 2’. ‘Muse Meadow’ is about half that size, with the darkest, prettiest leaves of all.
rubra `Jughandle’. Red fescue. California has many clumping forms of red fescue, whose spreading forms are used as lawn grasses. Typically ours are mop-like in habit, with limp, narrow, dark green leaves. This selection is distinguished by relatively short, sturdy stems and leaves but even more by its chalky bluish green color. It should be one of the more shade- and water-tolerant of the fescues.