Leaves are thin and dark green, with edges that rolls together, making them appear round, they grow 214 in 535 cm long. Bluish, wirey leaves grow to 12 inches, taller in moist sites. Leaf blades may grow to a foot in height while flower stems may reach two feet. Sunset western garden book is the best book for plant selection, a very important aspect of planting. Use it to edge paths or in mass under shade trees or aspen where its color and texture light up the area.
It is native to western north america, where it is widespread and common. Can you suggest a grass that is 23 feet tall and at most 2 feet wide. Best with full sun near the coast and light afternoon shade inland. Browse pictures and read growth cultivation information about festuca species, blue bunchgrass, bunchgrass fescue, idaho fescue festuca idahoensis supplied by member gardeners in the plantfiles. It can be found in many ecosystems, from shady forests to open plain grasslands. Idaho fescue will grow in fun sun to part shade and is quite drought tolerant once established. Idaho fescue is a d ensely tufted perennial bunch grass.
Plants profile for festuca idahoensis roemeri roemers. Bay municipal utility district, and the sunset western garden book. Sunset western garden book, california native plants for the garden, by. The small florets are grouped into spikelets, typical of grass. Idaho fescue or blue bunchgrass is native to western north america, where it is widespread and very common. Festuca fescues uc master gardener program of sonoma. Native to a wide range of north america, including california. Information and services for king county, washington. It can be found in many ecosystems, from shady forests to open plains grasslands. Festuca of north america feid festuca of north america descriptions and. This variety blooms late spring and produces tall, straight tan flower spikes. Plants profile for festuca idahoensis idahoensis idaho. Idaho fescue has a deep and extensive root system, making it excellent for erosion control. Moderate to low water needs in welldrained soil once established.
The soft foliage reaches a height of up to a foot and a width of about 1 12 ft the inflorescences are smaller than is typical for this species and can grow up to 18 inches tall. About idaho fescue festuca idahoensis 41 nurseries carry this plant. This book includes a photo gallery of western usas most innovative gardens, including waterwise and firewise gardens, living walls and green roofs. Provided by ars systematic botany and mycology laboratory. Our products festuca idahoensis, idaho fescue 10 cubic inch plug festuca idahoensis, idaho fescue 10 cubic inch plug. Festuca idahoensis is a species of grass known by the common names idaho fescue and blue bunchgrass. It is native to much of the northern half of north america and is most widely distributed in the west. Resources and some of our favorite books on the subjects presented. From midspring to midsummer, spikelets borne in narrow clusters emerge on stiff stalks, well above the tuft of leaves, and produce large awned fruits. Notes on the taxonomy and nomenclature of festuca occidentalis and f. Most adapted to deep, fertile, heavy soils, but will occur on thin welldrained coarse sites. More americans now live west of the mississippi than east of it, and this book reflects. The strong bluegreen colour sets it apart from the more electric blue of festuca idahoensis siskiyou blue, yet joseph is more ornamental than the common green varieties.
Sustainable landscapes natures tapestry landscapes. Festuca idahoensis idaho fescue is a small, evergreen clumping grass forming a densely tufted mound of stiff, short, very narrow leaves, often of a beautiful bluegreen to silverblue color. The taxonomy and distribution of festuca idahoensis in british columbia and northwestern washington. Festuca idahoensis stony creek urban tree farm nursery. Idaho fescue is a fair to good forage for all types of domestic livestock stubbendieck, j. It produces silvery to pale pink stems that hold glistening seed heads in summer. Leaves are fine textured and may have a silvery sheen. Festuca idahoensis elmer plants of the world online. Hooked bristlegrass, rough bristlegrass, bristly foxtail setaria verticilliformis. Most of the existing books on landscaping can be put into one of the three categories. Leaves are basal and grow from 37 in 718 cm long, very finely textured and sometimes covered with a waxy whitish coating.
Possible effects of weather modification increased snow pack on festuca idahoensis meadows. Bluegreen to silvery blue foliage in dense clump to 14 in. Gardeners throughout the region will be welcoming a thoroughly updated and freshlooking 8th edition of the bible of western gardening. Emergent trees and shrubs may be present at low cover. Festuca idahoensis, a monocot, is a perennial grass that is native to california, and is also found elsewhere in north america and beyond. Festuca idahoensis stony creek idahobluebunch fescue. Festuca idahoensis idaho fescue cool season, droughttolerant perennial bunchgrass. Mostly adapted to deep, fertile, heavy soils, but will occur on thin well drained coarse sites. Ca, berkeley, regional parks botanic garden at tilden. A modest sized native bunchgrass with beautiful green to bluegreen, finetextured foliage. Appreciates some protection from hot afternoon sun, especially inland. Festuca idahoensiss foliage color is white and type is evergreen. Ornamental grasses, native plantscare and maintenance, melica, festuca, elymus, droughttolerant plants, calamagrostis, bromus i am looking for a native, droughttolerant grass for a small garden plot in seattle. Festuca idahoensis tomales bay california flora nursery.
Festuca idahoensis idaho fescue, blue bunchgrass an evergreen perennial grass that forms a dense, fountainlike clump. Summary 2 festuca idahoensis is a species of grass known by the common names idaho fescue and blue bunchgrass. May festuca occidentalis western fescue poaceae add texture and movement to the garden with this pretty, narrowleafed coolseason bunchgrass that thrives in lightly shaded spots. According to thomas ogrens book, allergy free gardening, the genera alnus, baccharis, casuarina, festuca, pennisetum. Following the bestselling success of the previous editions of the western garden book, this edition includes a fresh new look, thousands of color photographs, fresh illustrations, and an easytofollow format. It is found at higher elevations of the western mountains, between 5,000 and 10,000 feet, and common habitats include meadows, hillsides and open woodlands.
Aiken 1roemers fescue, also called idaho fescue but not to be confused by the more common festuca idahoensis, is bluish gray green moderately shiny or glaucous, 35100 cm high, densely tufted, tiller bases stiffly erect, bases. It normally grows from one to three feet high and 8 across. Idaho fescue festuca idahoensis siskiyou blue canada. Plants profile for festuca occidentalis western fescue. Written by experts for gardeners in the west, this book is an indispensible reference for beginning and expert gardeners alike. Western garden book and the east bay municipal utility districts.
Idaho fescue festuca idahoensis june grass koeleria macrantha. This attractive bluegreen selection of our native bunchgrass was discovered in the nicasio area of marin county. Plants for creating meadows and habitat gardens in western washington while the choices are. Festuca idahoensis, idaho fescue plants of the wild. Native idaho fescue recognized for its blue narrow foliage giving it a softer, more graceful look than other festuca. Festuca occidentalis is a species of grass known by the common name western fescue. It is most often found in forest and woodland habitat. The specific epithet occidentalis is latin, meaning western.
An illustrated flora of the northern united states, canada and the british possessions. This grass forms low, mounds of very narrow, bluegreen leaves. Drought tolerant, though a little water in hot regions is helpful. Idaho fescue despite the name this luscious evergreen bunchgrass is a california native along with other western states. We are very pleased to offer this variety of idaho fescue. Festuca fescue are notable ornamental grasses with densely tufted, colorful foliage and showy flowers. Festuca idahoensis elmer is an accepted name this name is the accepted name of a species in the genus festuca family poaceae. Join our friendly community that shares tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants. Native to sonoma county woodlands and throughout the coast ranges to oregon, festuca californica grows taller than the low, bluish tufts called blue fescues, although this more robust california fescue commonly has bluish green leaves. Finetextured leaf blades age from shades of gray, blue, and green to buff. The record derives from wcsp data supplied on 20120323 which reports it as an accepted name record 415407 with original publication details. The new sunset western garden book sunset magazine. A bibliography of the literature on idaho fescue, festuca idahoensis elmer. Watersaver grass seed seed mixture with turftype tall fescue used to seed new lawn and patch up jobs grows in sun or shade 10 lbs covers 120 acre.
Elmer, idaho fescue is a native, perennial, coolseason grass. It is good yeararound forage for elk and is grazed in spring by deer. Festuca idahoensis is dominant or codominant in the herbaceous layer with achillea millefolium, anthoxanthum odoratum, arrhenatherum elatius, bromus carinatus, carex tumulicola, danthonia californica, festuca rubra, holcus lanatus, melica californica, nassella pulchra, poa secunda and pteridium aquilinum. Idaho fescue is a coolseason bunchgrass that grows to 40 inches tall and has fine leaf blades. Roemeri, contrasting bluegreen and green glaucous leaves 1. The ultimate gardening guide sunset western garden book paper the editors of sunset on. Festuca idahoensis elmer show all show tabs idaho fescue general information. Water needs information from wucols unless otherwise noted. In california it is most often found in the coast ranges and foothills of the sierra in the sierra, generally at 4000 ft and above. Festuca idahoensis, idaho fescue bromus carinatus and bromus marginatus, brome grasses elymus glaucus, wild rye grass melica species, onion grasses calamagrostis nutkaensis, pacific reedgrass each of these grasses grow in very distinct shapesi recommend that you look at them before choosing which species to plant. Idaho fescue festuca idahoensis applewood seed company.
Flowering stems are silvery to pale pink in color with glistening seed heads. View picture of festuca, idaho fescue siskiyou blue festuca idahoensis at daves garden. They vary in size from rock garden miniatures less than one foot tall to mediumsized grasses reaching 3 feet. Festuca idahoensis, idaho fescue this perennial bunchgrass is densely tufted, fineleafed, longlived, with blue and green forms.
Seedlings are weakly competitive but once established mature stands are strongly competitive. Festuca idahoensis elmer appears in other kew resources. Festuca idahoensis local form california flora nursery. Site conditions influence the layout of a native garden. The spikelets appear in a panicle inflorescence well above the tuft of leaves. Thought to be a hybrid between and european and western native species festuca idahoensis, siskiyou blue is a garden hero if only it would be more widely planted.