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| ## hard fescue {#hard-fescue .Title-Header}                           |
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| *Festuca brevipila* Tracey                                            |
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| Plant Symbol = FEBR7                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Pullman, Washington

![](media/image2.png){width="2.9298611111111112in" height="1.88125in"}

Clarence Kelley, USDA NRCS

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

##### *Festuca trachyphylla, F. duriuscula, F. ovina var. duriuscula, F. longifolia, F. cineria, F. duriuscula var. cineria, F. ovina* {#festuca-trachyphylla-f.-duriuscula-f.-ovina-var.-duriuscula-f.-longifolia-f.-cineria-f.-duriuscula-var.-cineria-f.-ovina .Header-3}

##### Uses  {#uses .Header-3}

##### 'Durar' hard fescue is used for stabilizing roadsides and ditch banks, farm tree plantings, cover in orchards, weed suppression, campsites and recreational areas, fairways for golf courses, farm landing strips, runway shoulders, logging roads, skid trails, ski slopes, dryland lawns and as cover for retired cropland. It has been used for grazing, but usually more palatable grasses are preferred. Mature stands are short-statured and have few seed heads, which makes this plant desirable for low-maintenance long-term cover. {#durar-hard-fescue-is-used-for-stabilizing-roadsides-and-ditch-banks-farm-tree-plantings-cover-in-orchards-weed-suppression-campsites-and-recreational-areas-fairways-for-golf-courses-farm-landing-strips-runway-shoulders-logging-roads-skid-trails-ski-slopes-dryland-lawns-and-as-cover-for-retired-cropland.-it-has-been-used-for-grazing-but-usually-more-palatable-grasses-are-preferred.-mature-stands-are-short-statured-and-have-few-seed-heads-which-makes-this-plant-desirable-for-low-maintenance-long-term-cover. .Header-3}

##### Status  {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description and Adaptation {#description-and-adaptation .Header-3}

'Durar' hard fescue is an introduced cool-season perennial bunchgrass
developed by re-selection from seed collected by Virgil Hawk in 1934 at
the Eastern Oregon Livestock Experiment Station at Union, Oregon. It was
released for commercial production in 1949, named 'Durar' in 1961 and
registered with Crop Science in 1964. This was the first commercial
release of hard fescue.

'Durar' is an introduced fine-leaved fescue that is long lived,
persistent and competitive with other grasses and weeds. The semi-erect
fine stems of this densely tufted bunchgrass attain a height of 30
inches when grown in good conditions. Compared to sheep fescue, it has
more lax leaves that are longer, broader and coarser.

Hard fescue is native to forest edge habitats and open forests of
Europe.

'Durar' is more drought resistant than chewings fescue (*Festuca rubra*
ssp. *fallax*), but not as drought resistant as sheep (*Festuca ovina*)
or Idaho fescue (*Festuca idahoensis*). It is adapted to the 16 to 30
inch rainfall areas of Washington State, Oregon and Idaho. 'Durar' makes
a tremendous root system, producing many more pounds of roots per acre
than it does in top growth. Root samples taken from the top 8 inches of
soil after 6 growing seasons showed 'Durar' with 6,000 pounds of roots
per acre and crested wheatgrass with 3500 pounds of roots per acre. It
produces up to 700 pounds of clean seed per acre.

'Durar' is adapted to medium and fine textured soils that are well
drained. Wet or saturated soils are not tolerated. It is somewhat shade
tolerant.

*Distribution*: Please consult the Plant Profile page for this species
on the PLANTS Web site.

##### Establishment  {#establishment .Header-3}

There are 565,000 seeds per pound of clean seed of 'Durar'. A firm,
weed-free seedbed is highly recommended. The germinating seedlings are
susceptible to soil crusting, so early spring seeding is essential.
Seeding should be done with double disk drills with depth control so
that seeding depth is no more than 1/4 inch. Early spring seedings work
well when made in spring barley stubble.

'Durar' seedlings may not be more than 1 -- 2 inches in diameter in the
establishment year; however, tremendous gains in competitiveness are
made in the second year.

Consult your local Natural Resources Conservation office for seeding and
seeding rate recommendations.

##### Management  {#management .Header-3}

New seedings need protection the first year, so the seeded area should
not be used or be subjected to traffic. Weed control is needed
especially in the establishment year. Do not fertilize in the year of
seeding because this generally results in heavy weed growth. Maintenance
applications of fertilizer may be necessary in low fertility critical
areas where the stand is stressed. Rotational use is recommended in
heavy use areas, along with a maintenance application of fertilizer.

Consult your local university Extension office for fertilizer and weed
control recommendations.

**Pests and Potential Problems**

No serious pests or other problems have been noted.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)  {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Over 90 cultivars of hard fescue have been released as of 2007, some of
which are Plant Variety Protected. Many of these varieties are for turf
and lawn use.

##### Prepared By  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

##### Wayne Crowder, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Pullman, Washington {#wayne-crowder-usda-nrcs-plant-materials-center-pullman-washington .Header-3}

##### Species Coordinator  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

Mark Stannard, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Pullman, Washington

##### Edited: 120307 MS, 120407 GK, 120507 JB; 071217 jsp {#edited-120307-ms-120407-gk-120507-jb-071217-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Conservation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*