California Fescue
Scientific Name: Festuca californica Vasey
Synonyms: Festuca hitchcockianus Alexeev
Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Festuca L./ Festuca californica Vasey
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Usda Symbol | FECA |
| Group | Monocot |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Growth Habits | Graminoid |
| Native Locations | FECA |
Plant Guide
Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where California Fescue is planted.
Plant Traits
Growth Requirements
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | 7 |
|---|---|
| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | No |
| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | Yes |
| Anaerobic Tolerance | None |
| CaCO3 Tolerance | Medium |
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Drought Tolerance | High |
| Fertility Requirement | Low |
| Fire Tolerance | High |
| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 200 |
| Hedge Tolerance | None |
| Moisture Use | Medium |
| pH, Maximum | 7.5 |
| pH, Minimum | 6.1 |
| Precipitation, Maximum | 20 |
| Precipitation, Minimum | 12 |
| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 8 |
| Salinity Tolerance | Low |
| Shade Tolerance | Intolerant |
Morphology/Physiology
| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Slow |
|---|---|
| Toxicity | None |
| Shape and Orientation | Erect |
| Nitrogen Fixation | None |
| Resprout Ability | No |
| Active Growth Period | Fall, Winter and Spring |
| Bloat | None |
| C:N Ratio | Medium |
| Coppice Potential | No |
| Fall Conspicuous | No |
| Fire Resistant | No |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Flower Conspicuous | No |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Porosity Summer | Moderate |
| Foliage Texture | Medium |
| Low Growing Grass | Yes |
| Lifespan | Moderate |
| Leaf Retention | No |
| Known Allelopath | No |
| Height, Mature (feet) | 4.0 |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Growth Form | Bunch |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
| Fruit/Seed Color | Brown |
| Foliage Porosity Winter | Porous |
Reproduction
| Vegetative Spread Rate | None |
|---|---|
| Small Grain | No |
| Seedling Vigor | Low |
| Seed Spread Rate | Moderate |
| Seed per Pound | 450000 |
| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
| Propagated by Tubers | No |
| Propagated by Sprigs | No |
| Propagated by Sod | No |
| Propagated by Seed | Yes |
| Propagated by Corm | No |
| Propagated by Container | No |
| Propagated by Bulb | No |
| Propagated by Bare Root | No |
| Fruit/Seed Period End | Summer |
| Fruit/Seed Period Begin | Spring |
| Fruit/Seed Abundance | High |
| Commercial Availability | No Known Source |
| Bloom Period | Early Spring |
| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
Suitability/Use
| Veneer Product | No |
|---|---|
| Pulpwood Product | No |
| Protein Potential | Low |
| Post Product | No |
| Palatable Human | No |
| Palatable Graze Animal | High |
| Palatable Browse Animal | Medium |
| Nursery Stock Product | No |
| Naval Store Product | No |
| Lumber Product | No |
| Fodder Product | Yes |
| Christmas Tree Product | No |
| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
