| Festuca rubra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Spikelets and flowers | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Festuca |
| Species: | F. rubra |
| Binomial name | |
| Festuca rubra | |
| Synonyms | |
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Festuca rubra is aspecies ofgrass known by the common namered fescue,[1]creeping red fescue or therush-leaf fescue. It is widespread across much of theNorthern 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.[2][3] Wild animals browse it, but it has not been important for domestic forage due to low productivity and palatability.[2] It is also anornamental plant for gardens.
Festuca rubra isperennial and has sub-species that haverhizomes and/or formbunchgrass tufts. It mainly exists in neutral and acidic soils. It can grow between 2 and 20 cm tall.
Like all fescues, the leaves are narrow and needle like, making it less palatable tolivestock. The swards that it forms are not as tufted assheep's fescue (Festuca ovina) or wavy hair grass (Deschampsia flexuosa). The tufted nature is what gives the grass its springy characteristic. The leaves are bright green.
There are 4 to 10spikelet flowers, which are up to 15 mm long.
Theligule is very short and blunt.[4]
Festuca rubra, as red fescue or creeping red fescue, is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use as aturfgrass andgroundcover. It can be left completely unmowed, or occasionally trimmed for a lushmeadow-like look. There are many subspecies, and manycultivars have been bred for thehorticulture trade.
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