Festuca californica
| Festuca californica | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Festuca |
| Species: | F. californica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Festuca californica | |
Festuca californica is a species of grass known by the common name California fescue.
This 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]
Description[]
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.
Uses[]
Cultivation[]
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[]
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[]
In ecological restoration projects, Festuca californica is used with other local native grasses for restoring California coastal prairie habitats.
See also[]
- Native grasses of California
- List of California native plants
References[]
- ^ 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[]
 |
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
- Festuca
- Bunchgrasses of North America
- Native grasses of California
- Grasses of the United States
- Flora of California
- Flora of Oregon
- Flora of the Cascade Range
- Flora of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.)
- Flora of the Klamath Mountains
- Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
- Natural history of the California Coast Ranges
- Natural history of the San Francisco Bay Area
- Natural history of the Transverse Ranges
- Garden plants of North America
- Drought-tolerant plants
- Pooideae stubs