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| ## California fescue {#california-fescue .Title-Header}               |
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| *Festuca californica* Vasey                                           |
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| Plant Symbol = FECA                                                   |
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*Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon*

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**Alternate names:** A close relative is Parish's California fescue,
*Festuca parishii* or *Festuca californica* var*. parishii*.

**Uses:** California fescue is a native grass useful for the restoration
of upland plant communities, especially oak savanna, open woodlands, and
prairies in Oregon and California. Its deep roots make it a good
candidate for erosion control on slopes. The species often persists
throughout the year with evergreen foliage in milder environments.
Tightly clumped bases and non-aggressive growth habit suggest
compatibility with forbs. Other possible uses are revegetation of
disturbed areas and wildlife food and cover. Palatability is medium for
all classes of ungulates. The species attracts certain butterflies and
many native birds eat the seeds. As a tall grass with thick chalky blue
to green foliage, California fescue is increasingly appreciated for its
ornamental and environmental landscape value.

# Description: California fescue is a native, cool season perennial bunchgrass that is intermediate to long lived. The base is tightly clumped and the culms (stems) are tall and erect, growing to a height of 60-140 cm. Inflorescences (flowers or panicles) are 10-30 cm long, open and sparsely branched. Branches usually occur in pairs. Leaves are medium textured (2-4 mm wide), primarily basal, stiff, sometimes purple tinged, flat or rolled, firm, and rough to the touch. Plants are typically grayish blue to green and lack horizontal rooting systems. This species flowers anytime between March and July, depending on elevation, population, or locale.

*Key to identification*: California fescue is coarser textured and
usually taller than other native fescues, but might be confused with
tall fescue (*Schedonorus phoenix,* synonym *Festuca arundinacea*),
which is widely introduced in the region. However, compared to
California fescue, the leaves of tall fescue are wider (4-10 mm vs. 2-4
mm) and have prominent or clasping auricles (lobes at the base of the
leaf blades). Parish's fescue is smaller, but otherwise very similar to
California fescue.

**Adaptation:** California fescue is found in large parts of Oregon and
California; its range includes the Coast Ranges, foothills, and valleys
from Clackamas County, Oregon, to San Luis Obispo County, California.
The species also occurs in the Cascade Range from Clackamas County south
into California and in the north and central Sierra Nevada. Elevation
range is from sea level to 6500 ft. in the mountains. Its relative,
Parish's California fescue, is confined to the San Bernardino Mountains
of California.

California fescue plants become hardy at a young age and, once
established, are tough survivors. Adapted to a variety of conditions,
the species tolerates sun to intermediate shade and semi-drought, as
well as moist soil along stream banks. However, it is most frequent in
the dappled shade, along the borders of woods, and on north facing
slopes. Other habitats include oak savanna, the understory of mixed
conifer-hardwood forests, chaparral, and serpentine soils (soils toxic
to many plants due to high levels magnesium and iron silicates and other
minerals). Preferred soils are medium to fine textured with a pH of 5.7
to 7.5. In one study, the species was rated tolerant to salt spray and
moderately tolerant to soil salinity, similar to many other grasses
including introduced tall fescue.

**Commercial availability:** A few seed sources are sometimes for sale
in Oregon and California. Several cultivars with exceptional foliage are
found in the horticultural trade, but they are vegetatively propagated
or have a narrow gene base and are not recommended for restoration.

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="1.6041666666666667in"
height="3.9902777777777776in"}

##### Line drawing reprinted with permission,

University of Washington Press

**Relative abundance in the wild:** California fescue has become rare in
the Willamette Valley. Often hard to find, it is an excellent candidate
for species reintroduction. This grass is relatively common in Southwest
Oregon and parts of California.

**Limitations or environmental concerns:** This species is initially
slow to germinate and sometimes difficult to establish, especially with
competition. Seed set is low in some years which may be the result
interference in pollination from rains during early spring flowering.
There are no known environmental concerns.

**Establishment:** California fescue appears to have minor seed
dormancy, at least in some populations. Others report no dormancy, but
two weeks of cold moist chilling (stratification treatment) can result
in more uniform and quicker germination. Spring sowing of untreated seed
can have staggered germination; seedlings may emerge over a period of
two to eight weeks. Therefore, fall planting when soil temperatures are
cooler is highly recommended. No special physical conditioning of the
seed is required for using a drill or broadcast seeder. While slow to
establish, seedlings become hardy plants. . There are approximately
224,000 (+/- 20%) seeds per pound with hulls intact. Each 1 pound of
seed sown per acre is equivalent to approximately 5 seeds per square
foot. Sown alone, a suggested minimum seeding rate is 10 lbs of pure
live seed (PLS) per acre for general revegetation. In seed mixes, fast
germinating and quick establishing grasses should be kept to a low
percentage.

Some practitioners prefer container plants of California fescue because
of spotty or variable establishment from seed. It is easily propagated
vegetatively by division of the crown. California fescue is presumed to
have some tolerance to fire as a natural component of grassland
ecosystems. Suggested frequency for prescribed fire is once every three
to five years. However, summer burning can be fatal if plants are green
and active. Specific guidelines for stand management and grazing are not
well reported.

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

Dale Darris and Sonja Johnson. USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center,
Corvallis, Oregon.

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

Dale Darris, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Edited 7/31/07 D. Darris; 070802 jsp

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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