Description

This highly adaptable bunchgrass grows in many plant communities in the Northwest into Canada. In California it grows in both the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges down to about the latitude of San Jose. It is not native to Santa Clara County, though I suspect it’s up there in the Diablo Range somewhere. Idahoe fescue grows as a clean bunch of thin arching blades in full sun or partial shade. The plant will expand over time but does not spread via rhizome. The flower stalks rise high above the blades in spring or early summer. The maturing seed heads may be left on the plant as they slowly turn brown while the seed matures. Unlike many native bunchgrasses, Idaho fescue may be kept green throughout the year with a little summer water. At the same time, it is drought tolerant once established. It will just go largely brown as the summer progresses.