Pictures and description of festuca idahoensis, idaho fescue. Bay municipal utility district, and the sunset western garden book. This fescue is a denselyclumping longlived perennial grass with stems from about 30 to 80. Festuca idahoensis idaho fescue full sun to part sun 12 12 very low wucols. It is native to western north america, where it is widespread and common.
This variety blooms late spring and produces tall, straight tan flower spikes. Finetextured leaf blades age from shades of gray, blue, and green to buff. Idaho fescue festuca idahoensis siskiyou blue canada. Festuca idahoensis tomales bay tomales bay idaho fescue, blue bunchgrass a semievergreen perennial grass that forms a dense, fountainlike clump. It reaches 2 feet tall with an equal spread, and has a slate or serpentine blue cast. Idaho fescue is a valuable asset to the meadow garden, grows best in the northern half of the state, and in hot summer areas needs sprinkling during the dry season, weekly or semimonthly only lightly wet the leaves, do not irrigate the soil.
A low maintenance compliment to natural landscapes. Best with full sun near the coast and light afternoon shade inland. Native to sonoma county woodlands and throughout the coast ranges to oregon, festuca californica grows taller than the low, bluish tufts called blue fescues, although this more robust. Despite the name this luscious evergreen bunchgrass is a california native along with other western states.
Catalogue of new world grasses searchable database. Idaho fescue or blue bunchgrass is native to western north america, where it is widespread. Colors vivid in sun does well in poor soil a handsome and different ground cover. Festuca idahoensis elmer is an accepted name this name is the accepted name of a species in the genus festuca family poaceae. Festuca idahoensis, idaho fescue this perennial bunchgrass is densely tufted, fineleafed, longlived, with blue and green forms.
Growers of fine ornamental grasses, sedges, rushes and select perennials. Grows on all soil textures but prefers silt or sandy loams. Throughout western north america except at extreme northern latitudes. In the columbia basin region it occurs from the dry, open ridge tops in the alpine zone to the moist valley bottoms and the open. Use it to edge paths or in mass under shade trees or aspen where its color and texture light up the area. This longlived variety forms dense clumps of attractive, finetextured, silveryblue foliage initially uprightgrowing in youth, eventually arching with maturity. View picture of festuca, idaho fescue siskiyou blue festuca idahoensis at daves garden. Native to sonoma county woodlands and throughout the coast ranges to oregon, festuca californica grows taller than the low, bluish tufts called blue fescues, although this more robust california fescue commonly has bluish green leaves. Roemeri, contrasting bluegreen and green glaucous leaves 1. It produces silvery to pale pink stems that hold glistening seed heads in summer. Select from img where ready1 and taxon festuca idahoensis order by taxon click on the thumbnail to see an enlargement. It can be found in many ecosystems, from shady forests to open plains grasslands. Browse pictures and read growth cultivation information about festuca species, blue bunchgrass, bunchgrass fescue, idaho fescue festuca idahoensis supplied by member gardeners in the plantfiles.
Agricultural farming in and around sonoma county dates back to the turn of the century, so planting an orchard in this region seems like a natural thing to do. About idaho fescue festuca idahoensis 41 nurseries carry this plant. Idaho fescue is the dominant grass of many coastal meadows from the sf bay area, north and in the mountains of the west. Sunset western garden book, sunset publishing corp. Idaho fescue has a deep and extensive root system, making it excellent for erosion control. Thought to be a hybrid between and european and western native species festuca idahoensis, siskiyou blue is a garden hero if only it would be more widely planted. Click on a characteristic from the list below to see a list of other plants that share that characteristic. Water needs information from wucols unless otherwise noted.
The spikelets appear in a panicle inflorescence well above the tuft of leaves. This versatile grass can be maintained as a turf lawn or left unmowed. Lawn to garden rebate program approved plant list trees. Festuca idahoensis idaho fescue is a small, evergreen clumping grass forming a densely tufted mound of stiff, short, very narrow leaves, often of a beautiful bluegreen to silverblue color.
Festuca idahoensis elmer show all show tabs idaho fescue general information. It has attractive, pale pink to silvery summer flowering stems with glistening, lighter bluegreen seed heads. Festuca idahoensis, a monocot, is a perennial grass that is native to california, and is also found elsewhere in north america and beyond. Possible effects of weather modification increased snow pack on festuca idahoensis meadows. For current distribution, please consult the plant profile page for this species on the plants web site. Information and services for king county, washington. The ultimate gardening guide sunset western garden book paper the editors of sunset on. This grass is midsized with a fountainlike shape 1. Festuca idahoensis stony creek urban tree farm nursery. Summary 2 festuca idahoensis is a species of grass known by the common names idaho fescue and blue bunchgrass. Plants profile for festuca occidentalis western fescue.
Individual clumps may be purchased or seeded in shades of blue, gray, silver or green. A useful and attractive fine textured densely tufted bunchgrass. A bibliography of the literature on idaho fescue, festuca idahoensis elmer. According to thomas ogrens book, allergy free gardening, the genera alnus, baccharis, casuarina, festuca, pennisetum. Mycorrhizal fungi associated with festuca in the western united states and canada. Festuca idahoensis is a species of grass known by the common names idaho fescue and blue bunchgrass. Festuca fescue the genus festuca in canada is represented in all major. Idaho fescue is one of the most common and widely distributed grasses in the western states. Festuca siskiyou blue siskiyou blue fescue a long living cool season bunch grass with tight clumps of narrow chalkyblue foliage 12 to 18 inches tall by slightly wider with flowers stalks rising straight up about 6 inches above the foliage in late spring into early summer. They vary in size from rock garden miniatures less than one foot tall to mediumsized grasses reaching 3 feet. G rowing a fruit tree in santa rosa, ca or anywhere in the north bay area is a relatively easy endeavor provided you are armed with some basic information prior to planting your first fruit tree. Hinckley 129 reports idaho fescue in the mount livermore area of western. Festuca idahoensis siskiyou blue, idaho fescue grass in. Flower and rock gardens and small areas where you would like to.
Ca, berkeley, regional parks botanic garden at tilden. Idaho fescue festuca idahoensis june grass koeleria macrantha. Most adapted to deep, fertile, heavy soils, but will occur on thin welldrained coarse sites. However, it is either rare or absent in the southern portions of the southwest.
Watersaver grass seed mixture with turftype tall fescue used to seed new lawn and patch up jobs grows in sun or shade 25 lbs covers 110 acre. The spectacular, nonfading blue foliage and unique growing habits make this ideal for borders. This is a low growing blue gray selection of idaho fescue. Youtie used seed propagated in the greenhouse to establish idaho fescue in a small native plant garden on the. Early spring seeding is best pahl and smreciu 1999. Effects of grazing on vegetation in the artemisia tridentatafestuca idahoensis habitat type. Contains two native fine fescues and one highly naturalized variety. Coolseason growers, fescues can withstand dry conditions and severe frosts but often suffer in hot, humid weather. Native to a wide range of north america, including california. You can change the display of the base map and layers by clicking on the layer control box in. Related plants emerald isle joseph nezpurs siskiyou blue. The taxonomy and distribution of festuca idahoensis in british columbia and northwestern washington.
Siskiyou blue idaho fescue grass festuca siskiyou blue. Join our friendly community that shares tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants. The specific epithet occidentalis is latin, meaning western. Plants profile for festuca idahoensis idahoensis idaho. Festuca idahoensis stony creek idaho fescue, blue bunchgrass a semievergreen perennial grass that forms a dense, fountainlike clump. A modest sized native bunchgrass with beautiful green to bluegreen, finetextured foliage. Idaho fescue or blue bunchgrass is native to western north america, where it is widespread and very common. Provided by ars systematic botany and mycology laboratory. Site conditions influence the layout of a native garden. Festuca idahoensis siskiyou blue village nurseries. Festuca fescues uc master gardener program of sonoma county. In california it is most often found in the coast ranges and foothills of the sierra in the sierra, generally at 4000 ft and above. Elmer, idaho fescue is a native, perennial, coolseason grass.
Idaho fescue festuca idahoensis applewood seed company. The soft foliage reaches a height of up to a foot and a width of about 1 12 ft the inflorescences are smaller than is typical for this species and can grow up to 18 inches tall. Bonap north american plant atlas of the biota of north america program. An illustrated flora of the northern united states, canada and the british possessions. Festuca siskiyou blue is a selection from berkeley botanic garden. Festuca idahoensis tomales bay california flora nursery. Bluishgreen flower spikes rise above the attractive foliage in earlysummer to eventually mature to tan, and should be removed if reseeding is not. Festuca occidentalis is a species of grass known by the common name western fescue. Idaho fescue habitat extends from 1,000 to over,000 ft, though most prevalent from about 5,000 to 8,000 ft.
Festuca idahoensis elmer plants of the world online. This grass can be grown in full sun or part shade, and is drought tolerant once established. Grasses, from exotic ornamental cultivars to common lawn varieties, are a diverse group, with individuals thriving in a wide range of circumstances. It blooms in the late spring producing tall, straight tan flower spikes typical of festuca grass.
However, it is either rare or absent in the southern portions of the western states. Seedlings are weakly competitive but once established mature stands are strongly competitive. Festuca idahoensis is dominant or codominant in the herbaceous layer with achillea millefolium, anthoxanthum odoratum, arrhenatherum elatius, bromus carinatus, carex tumulicola, danthonia californica, festuca rubra, holcus lanatus, melica californica, nassella pulchra, poa secunda and pteridium aquilinum. Festuca fescues uc master gardener program of sonoma. It is native to much of the northern half of north america and is most widely distributed in the west. Montana field guide contains a wealth of information about montanas diverse species. Before requesting germplasm, scientists should consider their capacity to receive it. It normally grows from one to three feet high and 8 across. Idaho fescue is a coolseason bunchgrass that grows to 40 inches tall and has fine leaf blades.
Below is an article entitled what to plant over the septic system by mary robson originally published in her regional garden column for washington state university extension, december 6, 1998. Tolerates wind, drought and deer and can be grown in full sun or partial shade. Finetextured leaf blades age from deep bluegreen to buff. Festuca idahoensis local form california flora nursery. It is found at higher elevations of the western mountains, between 5,000 and 10,000 feet, and common habitats include meadows, hillsides and open woodlands. The small florets are grouped into spikelets, typical of grass. This is a new selection of the native idaho fescue, notable for its enticing spruceblue foliage.
It is most often found in forest and woodland habitat. Nomenclatural and specimen database of the missouri botanical garden. Moderategrowing evergreen ornamental grass to 1012 tall x 1215 wide. Festuca idahoensis elmer appears in other kew resources. Densely tufted, a bunch grass which grows 1 foot tall, 1 to 2 foot spread. Festuca fescue are notable ornamental grasses with densely tufted, colorful foliage and showy flowers. Appreciates some protection from hot afternoon sun, especially inland. This attractive bluegreen selection of our native bunchgrass was discovered in the nicasio area of marin county. Bluegreen to silvery blue foliage in dense clump to 14 in.
The record derives from wcsp data supplied on 20120323 which reports it as an accepted name record 415407 with original publication details. Usdanrcs database of plants of the united states and its territories. The thin leaves are much longer than the more familiar festuca glauca, giving siskiyou blue a softer, more graceful look. Aiken 1roemers fescue, also called idaho fescue but not to be confused by the more common festuca idahoensis, is bluish gray green moderately shiny or glaucous, 35100 cm high, densely tufted, tiller bases stiffly erect, bases. Festuca idahoensis varies in coloration, as do some of the nonnatives. Idaho fescue despite the name this luscious evergreen bunchgrass is a california native along with other western states. Finetextured leaf blades age from bluegray to buff.
Water use classifications of landscape species for region 1 no. Festuca idahoensiss foliage color is white and type is evergreen. In looking at the planting information on the packages and in my western garden book, nothing seems to mention root depth. Festuca idahoensis, idaho fescue native perennial, coolseason, denselytufted, bunchgrass widely distributed in the western us at elevations from 1,00010,000 ft. Leaves are thin and dark green, with edges that rolls together, making them appear round, they grow 214 in 535 cm long. Festuca idahoensis tomales bay mostly natives nursery.
Emergent trees and shrubs may be present at low cover. Notes on the taxonomy and nomenclature of festuca occidentalis and f. Drought tolerant, though a little water in hot regions is helpful. Sunset western garden book, california native plants for the garden, by.
Native idaho fescue recognized for its blue narrow foliage giving it a softer, more graceful look than other festuca. In other places in and around redding, this plant can behave differently festuca idahoensis siskiyou blue idaho fescue grass is a california native and its natural habitat is the shortgrass prairie. Festuca idahoensis idaho fescue, blue bunchgrass an evergreen perennial grass that forms a dense, fountainlike clump. National plant germplasm system covid19 update, march 23, 2020. Festuca idahoensis tomales bay tomales bay idaho fescue.
Festuca idahoensis local form plant characteristics. Check other web resources for festuca idahoensis elmer. From midspring to midsummer, spikelets borne in narrow clusters emerge on stiff stalks, well above the tuft of leaves, and produce large awned fruits. Festuca of north america feid festuca of north america descriptions and. This grass forms low, mounds of very narrow, bluegreen leaves. The taxonomy and distribution of festuca idahoensis in british columbia and.