Festuca rubra 'Pennlawn'

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Festuca rubra 'Pennlawn'

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Kemper Code: G880

Common Name: red fescue
Zone: 3 to 6
Plant Type: Turfgrass
Family: Poaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: to 0.25 feet
Spread: to 0.25 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Color: Green
Sun: Part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Medium

Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Where is this species invasive in the US?

Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Red fescue is a fine-leaved turfgrass that does well in part shade and grows best in cool climates as in the coastal northwest, Great Lakes area or at high elevations. It has good drought tolerance and requires low to medium amounts of fertilizer (1 to 3 lbs. nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft.) It can be blended with tall fescue or bluegrass and has the ability to creep by rhizomes. Seeding rates are about 2 to 4 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Red fescue is the most commonly used cool season turfgrass in shade and dry, drought-prone areas. It can be mixed with other fescues and bluegrass to provide a full sun to shade blend. Its maintenance requirement is low to medium and should be mowed at about 2 to 3". It can be left unmowed for a meadow look, if desired.

Problems:

Red fescue does not wear well and is slow to recuperate when thinned out or damaged. It is very susceptible to summer diseases in hot climates and this can become more notable in fertile, moist soils.

Uses:

Frequently used under shade conditions such as beneath the canopy of trees. Blend with bluegrass or tall fescue.