Festuca rubra commutata – Chewing Fescue – Fescue –

Festuca – Fescue – There are about 300-400 species of deciduous or evergreen, rhizomatous, often tufted, perennial grasses, in this genus.  They occur in grassland, woodland, edges, and stream margins throughout temperate zones.  Many are grown as a turf or pasture grass.  A few ornamental species have attractive inflorescences, but most are grown for their foliage, which is often blue green or blue-gray.  The 5 to 9 veined, lance shaped leaves are flat, folded, or rolled.  Dense or loose, branched panicles of flattened spikelets, with glaucous or brownish green inflorescences, are borne from spring to summer.  Grow fescues singly or in groups in a border or rock garden to provide foliage contrast with alpines, Grow in poor to moderately fertile, dry, well drained soil in full sun. Prone to ergot, powdery mildew, rust, smut, brown patch, Helminthoporium leaf spot, net blotch, pink snow mold, anthracnose, eye spot, and summer blight. F. rubra commutata – Chewing Fescue – This creeping, tuft grass, lacking rhizomes, is from Northeastern and Northwestern USA and Canada. It grows aggressively, a good choice for a low maintenance turf, in shaded, low traffic areas of parks and lawn. Mow to 1 ½-2 ½” tall. Zones 3-7