Earth People LandCare
Red Fescue — Festuca rubra
Red Fescue — Festuca rubra
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Festuca rubra
A fine-textured, cool-season grass for soft meadow effects and suitable low-mow areas. Red Fescue performs best with mild temperatures and can be useful in shaded coastal gardens; hot inland sites need careful placement.
Growing in Southern California
- Light: Part shade suits it well; sun is more suitable in cool coastal conditions.
- Mature size: Unmown growth can reach 1–3 feet tall. Rhizomes spread to form patches, so width expands over time rather than remaining a fixed clump.
- Water & drought: Drought tolerant, but summer dormancy and thinning can occur. Match watering to season and desired appearance.
- Soil: Adaptable to several soil textures with drainage.
- Growth: Rapid spreading during favorable cool conditions; damaged or thinned areas may recover slowly.
- Habitat: Provides grassy structure and forage; pair with flowering natives for nectar resources.
- Maintenance: Leave natural for a meadow effect or mow appropriately for a turf-style planting. Watch for summer disease in hot conditions.
- Uses: Cool coastal meadows, shaded borders and appropriate low-mow landscapes.
Representative photograph of the named plant, not current nursery stock. Image by Krzysztof Ziarnek (Kenraiz), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. No intentional modifications.
Plant ordering & availability
All plant orders are subject to availability and quality verification. We confirm your plants before collecting payment.
Select your preferred plant and container size when requesting an order. Container sizes describe growing containers, not guaranteed plant height or age. Current availability and plant condition are confirmed individually. Delivery and professional planting are quoted separately unless expressly included.
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