Fine Fescue (mixture probable)
Festuca subg. Schedonorus / Festuca rubra complex · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 photosynthesis
Grass Family
Poaceae, Pooideae, Poeae tribe
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Shade Garden, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Creeping Red Fescue or Chewings Fescue
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-7; high cold tolerance, poor heat tolerance (will go dormant in high heat/humidity)
About This Grass
A very fine-textured, needle-like grass that produces a soft, floppy appearance when left unmowed. It maintains a deep green to grayish-green color and forms a thick, carpet-like cover in shaded areas.
Blade Characteristics
Fine (<2mm), bristle-like or needle-shaped (involute), pointed tips, dark green color, folded vernation, short membranous ligule, absent auricles
Root System
Fibrous and dense; Creeping varieties have short rhizomes; moderate depth with high thatch-forming tendency, slow to moderate establishment speed
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and Northern Asia; well-adapted to Cool-Humid climates in North America
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous (Creeping Red) or Bunch-type (Chewings/Hard), forming a dense, tufted mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Excellent Shade Tolerance (4-6 hours sun), low to moderate water needs, high drought tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses, prefers well-drained acidic soil
Mowing & Maintenance
1.5 to 3.0 inches (or left unmowed for 'no-mow' look), low frequency, 1-2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually, medium maintenance (sensitive to over-fertilization)
Special Characteristics
Superior shade tolerance, high drought resistance, salt tolerant (Red fescue), low traffic/wear tolerance, high disease resistance in cool weather
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized; provides cover for small wildlife; excellent for stabilizing slopes and low-input sustainable landscapes; often mixed with Bluegrass