red fescue
Festuca rubra
USDA zones2 to 7
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterHandles dry to wet soil
Size12 to 24 inches tall
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Habit
- Grass/grass-like
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- Yellow
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Red fescue (Festuca rubra) is a grass for ground cover, meadow, and low maintenance gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 2, or down to -50°F (-46°C). This plant likes full or part sun and dry to wet, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. It grows fast, reaches 12 to 24 inches tall, and handles drought. It sits low on the menu for deer. Butterflies and birds visit it, but it does not tolerate shade.
Pairs well with Rush, Sticky purple geranium, and Colorado blue spruce.
Native range
AK, AL, AZ, CA, and 49 more places. See all 53
AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY; AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC, and SK.