Festuca californica explained
Festuca californica is a species of grass known by the common name California fescue.
This fescue species is native to the U.S. states of California and Oregon, where it is a member of many plant communities, including chaparral and oak woodlands, the former of which can be found in both Northern and Southern coastal California and the latter in Central and Northern California.[1] [2]
Description
Festuca californica is a clumping perennial bunch grass, without rhizomes, that grows in greenish gray tufts.
It reaches anywhere from 1.5feet-4.5feetft (-ft) in height, and 1.5feet-3.5feetft (-ft) in width.[3] The green-gray leaves are narrow, and can reach 2feet long. Festuca californica has a yellow color when it blooms. Peak blooming time is March, April, May, June, July.[4]
The inflorescence, on stems reaching up to 6feet, holds spikelets, which are each 1 to 2 centimeters long. The flowers are in large open sprays, in the spring and summer. The plant reproduces from seed and from buds located at the base of the clump.
Uses
Cultivation
Festuca californica is cultivated as an ornamental grass by specialty plant nurseries, for planting in traditional gardens and as a potted plant, for drought-tolerant and wildlife gardens, and for natural landscaping projects.[5] [6] [7]
It is planted under Coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) in gardens, being a drought-tolerant understory not requiring summer watering that can endanger the trees.[8] It is also planted in landscapes for slope stabilization and erosion control, due to its deep and dense network of roots. Its light requirement makes it necessary for it to be planted in part shade conditions.
Cultivars
Cultivars are grown, with different foliage color and texture aesthetic variations, they include:
- Festuca californica 'Serpentine Blue' — blue grey-green.[9] [10]
- Festuca californica 'River House Blues' (Ron's California Fescue) — chalky blue.[11]
- Festuca californica 'Gabilan Blues' — shiny light blue.[12]
- Festuca californica 'San Rafael Blue' — silver blue-green.[13]
- Festuca californica 'Blue Fountain' - Suncrest Nurseries — chalky blue.[14]
Restoration
In ecological restoration projects, Festuca californica is used with other local native grasses for restoring California coastal prairie habitats.
Native Americans
People native to California such as the Pomo people thatched their houses with Festuca californica in order to provide warmth during cold seasons.[15]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/fescal/all.html USFS: "Ecology of Festuca californica"
- http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=25791 Jepson
- http://www.reddingwatersmart.com/eplant.php?plantnum=1580&return=l1 Redding Watersmart: Festuca californica
- Web site: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin . 2024-10-22 . www.wildflower.org.
- http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/festuca-californica Las Pilitas Horticultural Database: Festuca californica (California Fescue)
- http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=FECA Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Festuca californica
- http://www.bewaterwise.com/Gardensoft/plant_description.aspx?PlantID=1580 Bewaterwise.com: California Fescue
- http://ucanr.edu/sites/mgfresno/files/47637.pdf Bay Laurel Nursery: "Suggested Plants Compatible With Oaks"
- http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=749 Yerba Buena Nursery: Festuca californica 'Serpentine Blue'
- http://www.contracosta.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=24350&return=l5 Contra Costa water saving plants.com: Festuca californica 'Serpentine Blue'
- http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3665 San Marcos Growers: Festuca californica 'River House Blues'
- http://www.suncrestnurseries.com/calnatives_show.php?id=festcagab Suncrest Nurseries: Festuca californica 'Gabilan Blues'
- http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Festuca-californica/ Bay Natives Nursery: Festuca californica 'San Rafael Blue'
- http://www.suncrestnurseries.com/calnatives_show.php?id=festcabf Suncrest Nurseries: Festuca californica 'Blue Fountain'
- Book: Stromberg, Mark . California Grasslands: Ecology and Management . March 2007 . University of California Press . 2007 . 9780520933972 . Oakland . 57-66 . en.
