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| ## idaho fescue {#idaho-fescue .Title-Header}                         |
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| *Festuca idahoensis* Elmer                                            |
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| Plant Symbol = FEID                                                   |
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## *Contributed By: USDA, NRCS, Idaho and Washington State Offices, & the National Plant Data Center*

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.8881944444444443in"
height="1.8166666666666667in"}

# Alternate Names

## Bluebunch fescue

# 

# Uses

*Grazing/rangeland/wildlife:* Idaho fescue is a fair to good forage for
all types of domestic livestock (Stubbendieck, J. et al., 1992). It is
good year-around forage for elk and is grazed in spring by deer. Idaho
fescue begins senescence later in the growing season than most other
range plants. Therefore, it is particularly useful for late season
grazing. The "Range Plant Handbook" prepared by the USDA, Forest Service
includes a lengthy discussion on Idaho fescue use as rangeland forage
(USDA, Forest Service,1988). We reprint this discussion below.

"Idaho fescue is abundant and sometimes the dominant plant on extensive
areas. It usually ranks with the choicest forage plants, and in

Montana and possible elsewhere is, everything considered, probably the
best forage grass. However, it may not quite merit first rank in
palpability in some sections. It produces a fair amount of seed of
comparatively high viability and maintains itself well on the range if
given a reasonable opportunity. Idaho fescue excels many of its
associated forage species in ability to withstand heavy grazing and
trampling, although it will succumb to continued grazing abuse. All
classes of livestock relish it in the spring, as well as later in the
season where it grows on north slopes or in cooler, moister sites and
where the herbage remains tender. Under such conditions it is often
grazed more closely than other associated grasses. As the season
advances, the plants tend to become somewhat tough and harsh, and less
succulent, with a proportionate decrease in palatability for sheep,
especially ewes and lambs; to some extent this is true for horses and
cattle also. However, if more inviting forage is not available,
livestock will graze this species throughout the season and thrive.
Moreover, the plant cures well on the ground and makes a good or very
good fall forage, being readily grazed by all classes of livestock until
late in the season, while it also produces a good aftermath, which is
much relished. When accessible it is also a good forage for winter use."

Borman et al., (1991) compared eleven perennial grasses for their
ability to suppress growth of resident annuals in southwest Oregon. Both
Idaho fescue and 'Berber' orchardgrass (*Dactylis glomerata*), which
begin growth early in the spring, suppressed annuals more effectively
that grasses which initiate growth later in the spring. The grasses in
this study, that initiated growth later in the spring compared to Idaho
fescue and Berber orchardgrass, are California oatgrass (*Danthonia*
*californica*), prairie junegrass (*Koeleria macrantha*), tall
wheatgrass (*Thinopyrum elongatum*), intermediate wheatgrass
(*Thinopyrum. intermedium '* Oahe'), tall fescue (*Lolium arundinacea*),
perennial ryegrass (*Lolium perenne*), Rush intermediate wheatgrass
(*Thinopyrum. intermedium* 'Rush'), and orchardgrass (*Dactylis
glomerata '* Paiute'). The authors suggest that, for reseeding in the
southern Oregon foothills, land managers should select grass species,
which initiate the earliest spring growth, and maintain some growth
though out the winter.

Moderate continuous grazing (33% current herbage used) did not reduce
vigor of Idaho fescue in a 5-year grazing study (Ratliff and Reppert
(1974). However, they further reported that continuous grazing unduly
subjects the plants to heavy pressure during dry years. Jacobs and
Sheley (1996) compared several Idaho fescue defoliation frequencies and
defoliation levels (percents of aboveground biomass removed) for the
ability of Idaho fescue to interfere with spotted knapweed (*Centaurea
maculosa* Lam.) emergence and growth. As the Idaho fescue defoliation
frequency and defoliation level decreased spotted knapweed emergence and
growth also decreased. The authors suggest that moderate grazing
intensity and infrequent grazing will minimize spotted knapweed
invasions by maximizing soil water use by Idaho fescue.

Idaho fescue produces an extensive, deep root system. Therefore, it is
an excellent erosion control grass for cutover forest areas
(Hafenrichter et al., 1968). Plants that develop root-mycorrhizal
associations are more tolerant of adverse soil conditions. Ho (1987)
identified mycorrhizal Idaho fescue plants growing in an alkali dry lake
bed. This alkaline environment (pH 9.2 to 10.5) is not a typical Idaho
fescue habitat. Mycorrhiza innoculation may hold promise for increasing
the vigor and range of adaptation of Idaho fescue.

*Erosion control/reclamation*: Idaho fescue is fairly drought resistant,
stands are persistent and it is adapted to stabilization of disturbed
soils. It does not compete well with aggressive introduced grasses. Its
drought tolerance, combined with extensive root systems and good
seedling vigor, make this species ideal for reclamation in areas
receiving 14 to 20 inches annual precipitation.

# Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

# Description

Idaho fescue is a native, perennial, cool-season grass. Idaho fescue
culms are erect, 0.3 to 1.0 m tall, glabrous and glaucous, sparsely
leaved with most leaves basal. The fine narrow leaves usually have a
bluish green to green color. The leaf sheaths are flattened, keeled,
either glabrous or scabrous; the basal sheaths are short, open and wider
than the blade. The sheath collars are indistinct and the auricles are
either small or absent. The blades are involute, 5 to 25 cm long,
filiform, firm, elongate, scabrous, often glaucous, glabrous abaxially
and pubescent adaxially. The ligule has a ciliate membrane, less than 2
mm long, and is truncate. The inflorescence is a panicle, 7 to 15 cm
long, narrow, dense, with branches ascending and lower branches
spreading. The spikelets are 4 to 7 flowered, 8 to 14 mm long, with
rachilla joints visible; the lemma is 5 to 7 mm long, somewhat laterally
compressed at maturity, and scabrous to glabrous. The lemma is awned
from the tip, 2 to 5 mm long, and straight. The glumes are unequal,
lanceolate and acute; the first glume is 1-nerved, 3 to 5 mm long; and
the second glume faintly 5-nerved, 4 to 4.5 mm long. Idaho fescue begins
growth early in the spring and its seeds mature by midsummer. It
reproduces from both seeds and tillers.

# *Distribution*

The range of Idaho fescue extends to California, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Idaho fescue is one of the most common and widely distributed grasses in
the Western States. However, it is either rare or absent in the southern
portions of the western states. For current distribution, please consult
the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

# Adaptation

Idaho fescue occupies very diversified habitats. Collections show
altitudinal variation in Idaho fescue habitat extending from 300 m to
4,000 m ( 984 ft. to 13,120 ft.). Although it may be found at any
elevation between these extremes, it is most prevalent from about 1,524
to 2439 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft.) in Montana, from 2,341 to 3049 m (7,000
to 10,000 ft.) in Utah and Colorado, and form 915 to 2,341 m (3,000 to
7,000 ft.) in California and the Northwest.

It grows on all exposures and under a wide variety of soil conditions.
It prefers silt loam or sandy loam soils and is occasionally found on
loamy sand soils. Exposed benchlands, hillsides and ridges, parks,
meadows, forestlands, and open ponderosa and lodgepole pine stands are
common habitats. Idaho fescue is tolerant of weakly saline, weakly
alkaline and acidic soil conditions.

It has excellent cold tolerance, moderate drought tolerance, and
moderate shade tolerance. It is not as drought tolerant as sheep fescue
and its drought tolerance is similar to that of hard fescue. It is
fairly tolerant of fire in autumn, but requires 2 to 3 years to fully
recover after burning. It is not tolerant of high water tables or
flooding. Its frequent associates include bluegrass, mountain brome,
geranium, yarrow, mountain sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush, ponderosa
pine, bluebunch wheatgrass and slender wheatgrass. In the mountains of
Idaho, Montana and Wyoming it seems to be replaced by bluebunch
wheatgrass and needlegrass (*Stipa, Hesperostipa, Nassella*) as moisture
decreases or overgrazing increases.

# Establishment

*Natural establishment:* Idaho fescue produces a fair amount of seed of
comparatively high viability and maintains itself well on the range if
given a reasonable opportunity (USDA, Forest Service, 1988).

*Planting*: One PLS pound of Idaho fescue seed contains approximately
425,000 to 460,000 seeds and a broadcast planting of one pound of Idaho
fescue seed results in a seeding distribution of approximately 10.1
seeds per square foot (USDA, NRCS, 1996). The recommended pure stand
seeding rate is 3 to 4 (PLS) pounds per acre for range seedings.
Planting 6 to 8 pounds per acre will provide dense cover for erosion
control (Ensign et al. 1984). Idaho fescue is normally recommended as
component, in seeding mixtures, with other native species.

Idaho fescue seed is not highly germinable compared to alternative
forage or competing weeds (Evans and Young, 1972). Cold temperature (2C
constant) germination 18%, pales in comparison to cheatgrass, which had
76% germination under the same conditions (Evans and Young 1972, Young
et al. 1981). Proper weed control coupled with good seedbed preparation
is needed to achieve dense stands of Idaho fescue.

Idaho fescue initiates growth in March through April and matures in mid
to late summer. With adequate moisture, Idaho will produce a moderate
amount of re-growth following seed maturity. Late fall plantings are
most successful. Plant early in the spring if fall planting is not
possible. Seeded stands require 2 to 3 years to establish, but are very
competitive once established. Recommended planting depth is 0.25 to 0.50
inches in fine to medium textured soil and no more than 0.75 inches in
course textured soil. Conduct a soil analysis before planting; if the
soil test indicates less than 6 ppm of phosphorus, and then apply 60
pounds per acre of P~2~O~5~ (Ensign et al. 1984). Idaho fescue does not
require or respond to heavy nitrogen applications.

# Management

Idaho fescue is susceptible to overgrazing. Idaho fescue should be left
un-grazed by livestock through the growing season every 3 to 4 years.
This will promote vigor and seed production and encourage the
development of a strong root system, which is beneficial in reducing
soil erosion and weed competition. Also, deferred grazing during the
growing season supplies dry forage for autumn and winter use.

At least 50%, by weight of Idaho fescue annual growth should remain
following grazing, or a stubble height of about 2 to 3 inches.

Following fire, protect Idaho fescue from grazing for two full growing
seasons. An additional year\'s deferment may be needed to achieve full
plant recovery, and to re-establish a suitable stubble height because
palatability increases significantly following fire. A less palatable
residue is desirable to prevent livestock for grazing too closely.

# Pests

Primary pests of Idaho fescue are grasshoppers, rodents and fungi that
produce damping-off diseases of seedlings.

# Seed Production

Commercial seed production fields of Idaho fescue usually yield no seed
the first (establishment) year, a limited amount of seed the second
year, a large amount of seed the third year, and either a low or
adequate amount of seed the fourth year (personal communication with
Grasslands West Company, Clarkston, Washington, U.S.A.).

For seed production, plant Idaho fescue seed in early autumn in a firm,
weed free, fertile soil at a depth of 0.25 inches. Row spacing of 30 to
36 inches is recommended to facilitate weed control and rouging of
off-types. Plant 4 PLS (pure live seed) pounds of seed per acre for
these row plantings (Ensign et al. 1984).

# Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Foundation and registered seed is available through the appropriate
state Crop Improvement Association or commercial sources to grow
certified seed.

Idaho fescue characteristically has poor seed production and weak
seedling vigor (Hafenrichter et al. 1968). Therefore, the University of
Idaho initiated a breeding program in 1950 to produce Idaho fescue
cultivars with improved seed set, larger seed size (seedling vigor), and
improved germination percentage.

The University of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station developed two
Idaho fescue cultivars 'Joseph' and \'Nezpurs\' (Ensing, 1984). The
experiment station released both cultivars for certification in 1983.
Both Joseph and Nezpurs are synthetic cultivars selected through three
cycles of phenotypic recurrent selection. The base population used for
recurrent selection consisted of seed derived from inter-crossing 89
native ecotypes collected from northwestern states of the U.S. and
Canada. Joseph is a 13-clone synthetic cultivar. Joseph exhibited 18%
better seed set, 37% larger seeds, 14% better germination compared to
the original native ecotype collection. "It has uniform, robust plants
ranging from 72 to 80 cm in height. Joseph is 12 to 18 cm taller than
'Covar' sheep fescue (*Festuca ovina* L.) and approximately equal in
height to 'Durar' hard fescue (*Festuca ovina* var. *duriuscula*) (Table
1). The culms are erect with basal growth and 46% more forage production
than Covar or Durar. Seed production of Joseph is 30% more than Covar,
but 40% less than Durar" (Ensing, 1984).

'Nezpurs' is a 90-clone synthetic cultivar. 'Nezpurs' exhibited 30% more
seed set, 29% larger seed size, and 11% better germination than the
original collections. Nezpurs is more variable than 'Joseph'.

Both cultivars are adapted to Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana and
Colorado rangeland and open forestland with elevation between 300 and
2700 m (984 to 8856 ft.) and annual precipitation between 35 and 76 cm
(13.8 to 29.9 in).

'Winchester germplasm' is a source-identified release that was made by
Jerry Benson (Benson Farms Inc.). It originates from near Winchester,
Idaho (approx. elev. 4000', \~18" MAP). It is identical to P-6435, an
accession collected and evaluated by the Pullman PMC. 'Winchester
germplasm' displays a fairly high degree of phenotypic variability
because no effort was made to refine the germplasm by removing
off-types. It is well suited for plantings that require raw germplasm.

# Sources

Seed of 'Joseph' Idaho fescue is produced and sold by Grasslands West,
Clarkston, Washington, U.S.A

Seed of 'Nezpurs' Idaho fescue is produced by David R. Mosman Ranch
Inc., Mosman Road, Rt. 2 Box 43, Craigmont, Idaho, USA, (208) 937-2552.

# 

Seed of 'Winchester germplasm' Idaho fescue is produced and sold by
Benson Farms Inc., 1145 Jefferson Ave, Moses Lake, WA, USA,

\(509\) 756-6348

# References

Borman, M.M., W.C. Krueger, and D.E. Johnson. 1991. *Effects of
established perennial grasses on yields of associated weeds*. J. Range
Manage. 44:318-322.

Ensign, R.D. 1984. *Registration of Joseph and Nezpurs Idaho Fescue*.
Crop Sci. 24:617-618.

Ensign, R.D., V.G. Hickey, & T.J. Bakken 1984. *Joseph and Nezpurs Idaho
fescue: forage grasses for the Intermountain Northwest*. Cooperative
Extension Service, Current Information Series No. 736, University of
Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, Moscow.

Evans, R.A. and J.A. Young 1972. *Microsite requirements for
establishment of annual rangeland weeds*. Weed Sci. 20:350-356.

Hafenrichter, A.L., J.L. Schwendiman, H.L. Harris, R.S. MacLanchlan, &
H.W. Miller 1968. *Grasses and legumes for soil conservation in the
Pacific Northwest and Great Basin States*. USDA Handbook No. 339,
Washington, D.C.

Ho, I. 1987. *Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae of halophytic grasses in
the Alvord Desert of Oregon*. Northwest Sci. 61-148-151.

Jacobs, J.S. & R.L. Sheley 1997. *Relationships among Idaho fescue
defoliation, soil water, and spotted knapweed emergence and growth*. J.
Range Manage. 50:258-262.

Ratliff, R.D. & J.N. Reppert 1974*. Vigor of Idaho fescue grazed under
rest-rotation and continuous grazing*. J. Range Manage. 27:447-449.

Stubbendieck, J., S.L. Hatch, & C.H. Butterfield 1992. *North American
range plants*. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska.

USDA, Forest Service. 1988. Range plant handbook. Dover Publications
Inc., New York.

USDA, NRCS, 1996. *A vegetative guide to selected native grasses of
California*. Technical note PM-40, NRCS California State Office, Davis,
California.

Young, J.A., R.A. Evans, R.E. Eckert, & R.D. Ensign 1981.
*Germination-temperature profiles for Idaho and sheep fescue and Canby
bluegrass*. Agron. J. 73:716-720.

# Prepared By

*Dan Ogle*, Plant Materials Specialist, USDA, NRCS, Boise, Idaho

*James Henson*, USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana

*Mark Stannard*, Team Leader, USDA, NRCS, Plant Materials Center,
Pullman, Washington

# 

# Species Coordinator

*Mark Stannard*, Team Leader, USDA, NRCS, Plant Materials Center,
Pullman, Washington

Edited 05dec00 jsp; 26june02 dgo; 02july02 ms;30jan03ahv; 09jun03 ahv;
25may06jsp; 080108 jsp & dd

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/)\>

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