Overview
Festuca rubra is a tufted grass like in the genus Festuca, part of the Poaceae family, with evergreen foliage. It typically grows around 0.1-0.5 metres tall and 0.1-0.5 metres wide, reaching full size in around 2-5 years. Festuca rubra grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. It is drought resistant. Suggested uses include architectural, city and courtyard gardens, coastal, cottage and informal garden, gravel garden, patio and container plants, rock garden, low maintenance, bedding, flower borders and beds and garden edging.
About
Festuca rubra is a species of grass known by the common name red fescue, creeping red fescue or the rush-leaf fescue. It is widespread across much of the Northern Hemisphere and can tolerate many habitats and climates. It is best adapted to well-drained soils in cool, temperate climates; it prefers shadier areas and is often planted for its shade tolerance. Wild animals browse it, but it has not been important for domestic forage due to low productivity and palatability. In the wild it grows across North America, Oceania, South America, Afghanistan, Alabama and other regions. It grows to around 0.1-0.5 metres tall and 0.1-0.5 metres wide, carrying evergreen foliage. Grow it in full sun and most soil types. It tolerates soil of any pH, well-drained conditions and south-facing and west-facing aspects.
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Festuca rubra
About the genus
Festuca (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae. They are evergreen, herbaceous, or perennial, tufted grasses with a height range of 10–200 cm (4–79 in) and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. The genus is closely related to ryegrass (Lolium), and recent evidence from phylogenetic studies using DNA sequencing of plant mitochondrial DNA shows that the genus lacks monophyly.
Wikipedia contributors, "Festuca", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Festuca
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Festuca
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
Festuca rubra size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Grass Like
- Habit
- Tufted
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants, Rock garden, Low Maintenance, Bedding, Flower borders and beds, Garden edging
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Festuca rubra
- Propagation
- Seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring, Division in spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Festuca rubra?
Festuca rubra prefers full sun. It suits exposed and sheltered positions.
What soil does Festuca rubra need?
Festuca rubra is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including chalk, loam and sand. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays well-drained.
How big does Festuca rubra grow?
Festuca rubra reaches a height of 0.1-0.5 metres and a spread of 0.1-0.5 metres. It takes around 2-5 years to reach full size.
Is Festuca rubra hardy in the UK?
Festuca rubra has an RHS hardiness rating of H5, meaning it is hardy in most of the UK, tolerating -15 to -10°C.
How do I propagate Festuca rubra?
Seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring, Division in spring.
