Festuca rubra L.
Creeping Fescue
Red fescue is a fine-leaved perennial grass native to Britain and widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, very variable in form. Unlike the strictly tufted sheep's fescue, many forms spread by short rhizomes to make a creeping, knitting sward, with narrow, often inrolled leaves that can be deep green or tinged reddish, and slender flowering stems carrying narrow panicles that are frequently flushed red or purple before ripening.
About
Red fescue is a fine-leaved perennial grass native to Britain and widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, very variable in form. Unlike the strictly tufted sheep's fescue, many forms spread by short rhizomes to make a creeping, knitting sward, with narrow, often inrolled leaves that can be deep green or tinged reddish, and slender flowering stems carrying narrow panicles that are frequently flushed red or purple before ripening.
It is one of the most adaptable of grasses, growing on a wide range of soils from dunes and sea-cliffs to meadows, verges, lawns and saltmarsh edges, and tolerating shade, drought and salt better than many grasses. These qualities make it a mainstay of fine lawns, amenity turf and wildflower meadow mixes, where its creeping habit binds the soil and provides a durable base for other plants. It offers cover for invertebrates and is grazed by wild animals, though it is not a high-yielding forage grass.
Also known as
Red Fescue · ravine fescue
Synonyms
? magnelii · Avena dura · Bromus glaucus · Bromus secundus · Festuca alexeevii · Festuca alexeevii villispiculata · Festuca alpestris · Festuca alpigena · Festuca ammobia · Festuca anglica · Festuca apicebubens
In our seed mixes
- BFS 1 – Traditional Hay Meadow Wildflower Mix
- BFS 10 – Species Rich Wildflower Meadow Seed Mix
- BFS 11 – Coastal Meadow Grassland Seed Mix
- BFS 11a – Coastal Floodplain Grassland Meadow Seed Mix
- BFS 13 – Tussocky Grassland Wildflower Meadow Mix
- BFS 14 – Brownfield Site Wildflower Mix (Open Mosaic Habitat on Previously Developed Land) – 80% Flora
- BFS 3 – Floodplain Meadow Grassland Seed Mix
- BFS 4 – Heavy Clay Soil Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 5 – Wetland & Pond Edge Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 6 – Hedgerow & Shade Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 7 – Calcareous Grassland Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 8 – High Nutrient Initial Establishment Wildflower Grassland Mix – 50% Flora
- BFS 9 – Country Meadow Wildflower Seed Mix
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.