Festuca rubra subsp. rubra
creeping red fescue
A slowly spreading, tufted, perennial grass about 45cm tall, forming open clumps of fine, bristly, mid to dark green leaves often with red veins. Flower spikes to 45cm tall, are pale brown and produced in summer in clusters of spikelets. Often grown in a grassy meadows or as a lawn grass
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Grey Silver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Brown | Green Grey Silver | ||
| Autumn | Green Grey Silver | |||
| Winter | Green Grey Silver |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Poaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Tufted
- Genus
Festuca can be herbaceous or evergreen, rhizomatous grasses with linear, often strikingly coloured, leaves, and dense or lax panicles of brownish flowers in summer
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.. See ornamental grasses cultivation advice.
Propagation
Propagate by seed from autumn to spring or by division of clumps in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildflower meadow
- Ground cover
- Banks and slopes
Pruning
Comb out dead foliage and trim damaged parts of older leaves in spring, for turf or lawns, mow regularly when actively growing or leave unmown for a loose meadow-like appearance
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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