Native Plant Database

Festuca idahoensis Elmer

Blue bunchgrass, Bunchgrass fescue, Idaho fescue

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Bunchgrass fescue or Idaho fescue is a modest-sized, cool-season bunchgrass with very narrow, leaves, often of a striking blue- to gray-green color. Grows in large tufts with flowers in narrow clusters on stiff stalks, flower stalks twice the height of the leaves. The flowering culms are 12-18 in. in height and rather insignificant. This is a perennial.

In spite of its rough leaves, Idaho Fescue is still an important native forage grass.

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Leaf: Gray-Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NV , NM , OR , SD , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: B.C. to Alt., s. in mts. to c. CA & CO
Native Habitat: Rocky slopes & dry openings in woods below 5000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Deep, fertile to thin, rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: This grass is drought tolerant and excellent for erosion control. Seedlings are only weakly competitive but once mature become strongly competitive.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Festuca idahoensis is a larval host and/or nectar source for:

Sonora Skipper
(Polites sonora)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Last Update: 2007-01-01