Fine Fescue (Creeping Red Fescue)
Festuca rubra subsp. rubra · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Presumed 'Creeping Red' based on typical lawn mixes and growth habit
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-8; excellent cold tolerance; poor heat tolerance (will go dormant in hot, humid summers)
About This Grass
A fine-textured grass with a needle-like appearance. It has a soft, flowing texture that often 'lays over' when left long. Color is typically a medium to dark emerald green, often appearing slightly wispy.
Blade Characteristics
Fine width (<1.5mm), needle-like and folded/involute, pointed tip, medium green color, folded vernation, short membranous ligule, auricles absent or very small, narrow collar
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous roots with short underground rhizomes; low thatch tendency; slow to moderate establishment speed compared to ryegrass
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and parts of North America; widely adapted to North temperate regions
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous (creeping) and bunch-type; forms a dense, floppy mat rather than a stiff upright turf
Sunlight & Water Needs
Excellent shade tolerance (best of the cool-season grasses), requires 2-4 hours of sun but prefers filtered light; low to moderate water needs once established; high drought tolerance due to low evapotranspiration
Mowing & Maintenance
1.5 to 3.0 inches height; mow less frequently due to slow vertical growth; 1-3 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; low maintenance level requirements
Special Characteristics
Outstanding shade tolerance, salt tolerance, and ability to grow in poor, sandy, or acidic soils; low traffic tolerance—breaks easily under heavy footwear
Ecological Information
Naturalized in North America; provides cover for small mammals and invertebrates; excellent for stabilizing shaded slopes and reducing run-off; often used in 'No-Mow' mixes with other fine fescues