+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ## Arizona Fescue {#arizona-fescue .Title-Header}                     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Festuca arizonica* Vasey                                             |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Plant Symbol = FEAR2                                                  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Contributed by: Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center, Meeker,
Colorado

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="2.8666666666666667in" height="2.0in"}

Steve Parr, Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center

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

Arizona fescue has also been referred to as mountain bunch grass and
pine grass (USDA, ARS, NGRP, 2008).

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

*[Grazing/Rangeland:]{.underline}* Arizona fescue is moderately
palatable to cattle and horses, and to a lesser extent, domestic sheep.
In late summer the herbage decreases slightly in palatability. It has
moderate grazing tolerance. It produces a large amount of forage and
remains fairly green from spring to fall. The over-all forage value has
been rated good to excellent (Sampson, 1952; Herzman, et al., 1975;
Guker 2006).

[*Erosion Control*:]{.underline} Arizona fescue has an extensive root
system making it a valuable plant for soil stabilization. It has
moderate drought and shade tolerant qualities (USDA, SCS, NM, 1982; Gay
and Dwyer, 1965; NMSU, CES, 1977; Wasser, 1982).

*[Reclamation/Restoration:]{.underline}* Arizona fescue has performed
well on slightly acid mine waste materials in areas receiving adequate
precipitation (USDA,SCS, PMC, 1988)

*[Wildlife Habitat]{.underline}**: *** Arizona fescue has been reported
to provide forage for deer, elk, antelope, mountain goat and bighorn
sheep. In addition, Arizona fescue has been reported to provide food and
cover for a number of small mammals and birds (Guker, 2006; SCS, PMC,
1988).

*[Recreational/Residential:]{.underline}* Arizona fescue does not
tolerate trampling, and will not withstand foot traffic. Arizona fescue
can be used as an ornamental in landscape gardens (USDA, SCS, NM, 1982;
SCS, PMC, 1988; Univ. of Idaho, Ext., 2008)

##### 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).

#####  {#section .Header-3}

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

[*General*:]{.underline} Arizona fescue is a native, cool season, long
lived perennial bunch grass. The plant has no rhizomes. The culms or
stems can range from about 1 to 3 feet tall, clustered, pale blue-green,
and are rough to the touch. Leaf blades are mostly basal, pale
blue-green, 6 to 10 inches long, shaped like a string, and rough to the
touch. The inflorescence is a panicle about 3-8 inches long. It has a
deep, dense fibrous root system (Harrington, 1954; Guker, 200; Gay, et
al., 1965)

[*Distribution*:]{.underline}

For individual county distribution, within each state where Arizona
fescue occurs, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on
the PLANTS Web site.

[*Habitat*:]{.underline} Arizona fescue occurs in almost pure stands
under coniferous canopies. Grass species such as blue grama (*Bouteloua
gracilis*) and mountain muhly (*Muhlenbergia montana*) are sometimes
found growing along with Arizona fescue (Guker, 2006).

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

Arizona fescue is commonly found on dry, shallow, clay loam soils;
however, it can also grow on loams and sandy to gravelly soils. It most
often grows in association with ponderosa pine at elevations of 6000 to
10000 feet and on sites receiving at least 10 inches of annual
precipitation. It grows better on areas that receive 14 inches of
precipitation in a year. It occurs from Colorado south to Texas and west
to Nevada. Arizona fescue is moderately shade and drought tolerant. It
has been reported to survive most fires and recovers quickly with
monsoon rains in ponderosa pine forests of Arizona and New Mexico
(Thornburg, 1982; Wasser, 1982; NMSU, CES, 1977; Gay et al., 1965;
Sampson, 1952).

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

It is recommended to fall plant Arizona fescue, unless irrigation water
is available for establishment during early spring or at other times
during the year. The seed can be drilled or broadcast. Drill seed ¼ to ½
inch deep in a clean, weed-free seedbed. Two to 9 pounds of Pure Live
Seed per acre have been recommended for establishment under irrigation,
and half this recommended rates for dry land plantings. For critical
area planting 4-9 pounds of Pure Live Seeds have been recommended
(Hijar, 2002; Sharkoff, 2002; USDA, SCS, AZ, 1983; USDA, SCS, NM, 1982;
NMSU, CES, 1977).

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

Control weeds and withhold grazing during the seedling year. Arizona
fescue will tolerate moderate grazing, but stands will decline under
close grazing or heavy use. Use proper grazing management to keep a
healthy stand (Wasser, 1982; USDA, SCS, AZ, 1983).

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

No pests for Arizona fescue were found in the literature reviewed.
Allelopathic effects of Arizona fescue were observed in the laboratory
in seedlings of bottlebrush squirreltail, blue grama and ponderosa pine
(Guker, 2006).

##### Environmental Concerns {#environmental-concerns .Header-3}

None were reported in the references reviewed.

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="2.9972222222222222in"
height="1.9979166666666666in"}

Arizona fescue seeds (Source: Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)

Seed production fields have been planted at 36 inches or more between
rows to aid with cultivation for weed control and for roguing off-type
plants. Yields up to 200 pound per acre of clean seed have been reported
using the release 'Redondo' (USDA-SCS, AZ, 1983).

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

##### Arizona fescue has 480,500 seeds per pound (USDA, NRCS, 2008) {#arizona-fescue-has-480500-seeds-per-pound-usda-nrcs-2008 .Header-3}

#####  {#section-3 .Header-3}

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

'Redondo' Arizona fescue is the only cultivar release of this species.
'Redondo" was released in 1973 by New Mexico State University; Colorado
State University; New Mexico State Highway Department, and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) of
the United States Department of Agriculture.

The release 'Redondo' originated from a 1956 collection west of Los
Alamos, New Mexico. Initial testing and selection was conducted at Los
Lunas Plant Materials center, New Mexico; Bridger Plant Materials
center, Montana; and field locations in Colorado and New Mexico
(Alderson and Sharp, 1994; SCS, PMC, 1988; NMSU, CES, 1977).

'Redondo" Arizona fescue is available commercially and foundation seed
is maintained at Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center, Meeker,
Colorado.

**For Further Information**

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government". The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

#####  {#section-4 .Header-3}

##### References {#references .Header-3}

##### Alderson, J. and W. C. Sharp. 1994. Grass Varieties in the United States. USDA Soil Conservation Service. Agriculture Handbook No. 170. {#alderson-j.-and-w.-c.-sharp.-1994.-grass-varieties-in-the-united-states.-usda-soil-conservation-service.-agriculture-handbook-no.-170. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-5 .Header-3}

##### Gay, C. W. and D. D. Dwyer. 1965. New Mexico Range Plants. New Mexico State University, CES. Circular 374.  {#gay-c.-w.-and-d.-d.-dwyer.-1965.-new-mexico-range-plants.-new-mexico-state-university-ces.-circular-374. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-6 .Header-3}

##### Guker, C. L. 2006. Festuca arizonica. In: Fire Effects Information System, \[Online\]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: <http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/> \[2008, April 3\]. {#guker-c.-l.-2006.-festuca-arizonica.-in-fire-effects-information-system-online.-u.s.-department-of-agriculture-forest-service-rocky-mountain-research-station-fire-sciences-laboratory-producer.-available-httpwww.fs.fed.usdatabasefeis-2008-april-3. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-7 .Header-3}

##### Harrington, H. D. 1954. Manual of Plants of Colorado. 2^nd^ Edition. Sage Books, Swallow Press Incorporated. {#harrington-h.-d.-1954.-manual-of-plants-of-colorado.-2nd-edition.-sage-books-swallow-press-incorporated. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-8 .Header-3}

##### Herzman, C. W., R.M. Hyde, and C.S. Fonte. 1975 Handbook of Colorado Native Grasses. Colorado State Univ., ES. Bulletin. Fort Collins. {#herzman-c.-w.-r.m.-hyde-and-c.s.-fonte.-1975-handbook-of-colorado-native-grasses.-colorado-state-univ.-es.-bulletin.-fort-collins. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-9 .Header-3}

##### Hijar, D. A. 2002. Guide to Grasses. Pawnee Buttes Seed Inc. March, 2002. Second Edition. {#hijar-d.-a.-2002.-guide-to-grasses.-pawnee-buttes-seed-inc.-march-2002.-second-edition. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-10 .Header-3}

##### New Mexico State University, Cooperative Extension Service. 1977. Redondo, Arizona Fescue. Circular 473. August 1977. {#new-mexico-state-university-cooperative-extension-service.-1977.-redondo-arizona-fescue.-circular-473.-august-1977. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-11 .Header-3}

##### Sampson, A. W. 1952. Range Management principles and Practices. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. Chapman & Hall, Limited, London. {#sampson-a.-w.-1952.-range-management-principles-and-practices.-john-wiley-sons-inc.-new-york.-chapman-hall-limited-london. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-12 .Header-3}

##### Sharkoff, J. M. 2002. Plant suitability and seeding rates for conservation planting in Colorado. Plant Materials Technical Note No. 59 (Revised). USDA-NRCS, CO. {#sharkoff-j.-m.-2002.-plant-suitability-and-seeding-rates-for-conservation-planting-in-colorado.-plant-materials-technical-note-no.-59-revised.-usda-nrcs-co. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-13 .Header-3}

##### Thornburg, A. A. 1982. Plant Materials for use on surface mined lands in arid and semiarid regions. USDA, Soil Conservation Service, SCS-TP-157. {#thornburg-a.-a.-1982.-plant-materials-for-use-on-surface-mined-lands-in-arid-and-semiarid-regions.-usda-soil-conservation-service-scs-tp-157. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-14 .Header-3}

##### University of Idaho, Extension. 2008. Herbaceous Ornamentals. Grasses for Specific uses. \[Online\]. Available at: <http://www.extension.uidaho.edu/idahogardens/op/og_specifuse.htm> (Accessed 17 April 2008). {#university-of-idaho-extension.-2008.-herbaceous-ornamentals.-grasses-for-specific-uses.-online.-available-at-httpwww.extension.uidaho.eduidahogardensopog_specifuse.htm-accessed-17-april-2008. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-15 .Header-3}

##### USDA, Soil Conservation Service. 1983. Management and Uses of Arizona Fescue, *Festuca arizonica*, In Arizona. Plant Guide. USDA-SCS, Phoenix, Arizona. January 1983.  {#usda-soil-conservation-service.-1983.-management-and-uses-of-arizona-fescue-festuca-arizonica-in-arizona.-plant-guide.-usda-scs-phoenix-arizona.-january-1983. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-16 .Header-3}

##### USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resource Program. *Germplasm Resources Information Network- (GRIN)* \[online Database\]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: [http://.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?103633]() (03 April 2008).  {#usda-ars-national-genetic-resource-program.-germplasm-resources-information-network--grin-online-database.-national-germplasm-resources-laboratory-beltsville-maryland.-url-http.ars-grin.govcgi-binnpgshtmltaxon.pl103633-03-april-2008. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-17 .Header-3}

##### USDA, NRCS. 2008. The PLANTS Database ([**http://plants.usda.gov**](http://plants.usda.gov/), 17 April 2008). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. {#usda-nrcs.-2008.-the-plants-database-httpplants.usda.gov-17-april-2008.-national-plant-data-center-baton-rouge-la-70874-4490-usa. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-18 .Header-3}

##### USDA, Soil Conservation Service, Plant Materials Centers. 1988. Plant Materials Handbook. (For Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North and South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming) US Dept. of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining-Reclamation and Enforcement. {#usda-soil-conservation-service-plant-materials-centers.-1988.-plant-materials-handbook.-for-arizona-colorado-montana-new-mexico-north-and-south-dakota-utah-and-wyoming-us-dept.-of-the-interior-office-of-surface-mining-reclamation-and-enforcement. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-19 .Header-3}

##### USDA, Soil Conservation Service. 1982. Management and Uses of Arizona Fescue, *Festuca arizonica,* In New Mexico. Plant Guide. USDA-SCS, Albuquerque, NM. March 1982.  {#usda-soil-conservation-service.-1982.-management-and-uses-of-arizona-fescue-festuca-arizonica-in-new-mexico.-plant-guide.-usda-scs-albuquerque-nm.-march-1982. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-20 .Header-3}

##### Wasser, C. H. 1982. Ecology and culture of selected species useful in revegetating disturbed lands in the west. US Fish and Wildlife Service, FWS/OBS-82/56, September 1982. {#wasser-c.-h.-1982.-ecology-and-culture-of-selected-species-useful-in-revegetating-disturbed-lands-in-the-west.-us-fish-and-wildlife-service-fwsobs-8256-september-1982. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-21 .Header-3}

##### Prepared By and Species Coordinator: {#prepared-by-and-species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Manuel Rosales*, USDA NRCS Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center,
Meeker, Colorado

##### Edited: 080702 jsp {#edited-080702-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/).*