Festuca californica is a clumping perennial bunch grass, without rhizomes, that grows in greenish gray tufts.
It reaches anywhere from 1.5–4.5 feet (0.46–1.37 m) in height, and 1.5–3.5 feet (0.46–1.07 m) in width.[3] The green-gray leaves are narrow, and can reach 2 feet (0.61 m) long.
The inflorescence, on stems reaching up to 6 feet (180 cm), holds spikelets, which are each 1 to 2 centimeters long. The flowers are in large open sprays, in the spring and summer. The plant reproduces from seed and from buds located at the base of the clump.
It is planted under Coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) in gardens, being a drought-tolerant understory not requiring summer watering that can endanger the trees.[7] It is also planted in landscapes for slope stabilization and erosion control, due to its deep and dense network of roots.
Cultivarsedit
Cultivars are grown, with different foliage color and texture aesthetic variations, they include:
Festuca californica 'Serpentine Blue' — blue grey-green.[8][9]
Festuca californica 'River House Blues' (Ron's California Fescue) — chalky blue.[10]
USDA Plants Profile for Festuca californica (California fescue)
Festuca californica — U.C. Photo gallery
December 20, 2023
festuca, californica, species, grass, known, common, name, california, fescue, scientific, classificationkingdom, plantaeclade, tracheophytesclade, angiospermsclade, monocotsclade, commelinidsorder, poalesfamily, poaceaesubfamily, pooideaegenus, festucaspecies. Festuca californica is a species of grass known by the common name California fescue Festuca californicaScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade MonocotsClade CommelinidsOrder PoalesFamily PoaceaeSubfamily PooideaeGenus FestucaSpecies F californicaBinomial nameFestuca californicaVaseyThis fescue species is native to the U S states of California and Oregon where it is a member of many plant communities including chaparral and oak woodlands 1 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Uses 2 1 Cultivation 2 1 1 Cultivars 2 2 Restoration 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription editFestuca californica is a clumping perennial bunch grass without rhizomes that grows in greenish gray tufts It reaches anywhere from 1 5 4 5 feet 0 46 1 37 m in height and 1 5 3 5 feet 0 46 1 07 m in width 3 The green gray leaves are narrow and can reach 2 feet 0 61 m long The inflorescence on stems reaching up to 6 feet 180 cm holds spikelets which are each 1 to 2 centimeters long The flowers are in large open sprays in the spring and summer The plant reproduces from seed and from buds located at the base of the clump Uses editCultivation edit Festuca californica is cultivated as an ornamental grass by specialty plant nurseries for planting in traditional gardens and as a potted plant for drought tolerant and wildlife gardens and for natural landscaping projects 4 5 6 It is planted under Coast live oaks Quercus agrifolia in gardens being a drought tolerant understory not requiring summer watering that can endanger the trees 7 It is also planted in landscapes for slope stabilization and erosion control due to its deep and dense network of roots Cultivars edit Cultivars are grown with different foliage color and texture aesthetic variations they include Festuca californica Serpentine Blue blue grey green 8 9 Festuca californica River House Blues Ron s California Fescue chalky blue 10 Festuca californica Gabilan Blues shiny light blue 11 Festuca californica San Rafael Blue silver blue green 12 Festuca californica Blue Fountain Suncrest Nurseries chalky blue 13 Restoration edit In ecological restoration projects Festuca californica is used with other local native grasses for restoring California coastal prairie habitats See also editNative grasses of California List of California native plantsReferences edit USFS Ecology of Festuca californica Jepson Redding Watersmart Festuca californica Las Pilitas Horticultural Database Festuca californica California Fescue Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Festuca californica Bewaterwise com California Fescue Bay Laurel Nursery Suggested Plants Compatible With Oaks Yerba Buena Nursery Festuca californica Serpentine Blue Contra Costa water saving plants com Festuca californica Serpentine Blue San Marcos Growers Festuca californica River House Blues Suncrest Nurseries Festuca californica Gabilan Blues Bay Natives Nursery Festuca californica San Rafael Blue Suncrest Nurseries Festuca californica Blue Fountain External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Festuca californica CalFlora Database Festuca californica California fescue Jepson eFlora TJM2 Festuca californica USDA Plants Profile for Festuca californica California fescue Festuca californica U C Photo gallery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Festuca californica amp oldid 1186480732, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
