Hard Fescue

Festuca brevipila

Poaceae · grass grasslike · introduced

Last updated March 8, 2026

Data Coverage 5 of 6 dimensions

Site Data

Threats

Cultivars

Phenology

GDD Thresholds

Puget Sound

Excellent for low-maintenance lawns, slopes, and areas where irrigation is not available. Seed at 3 lb/1000 sqft. Most drought-tolerant cool-season grass alongside other fine fescues. Increasingly popular in eco-lawn and no-mow lawn seed mixes.

Quick Facts

Height

6–18 in (unmowed); mow to 1.25–1.5 in

Spread

Bunch-type; very dense, slow-growing

Growth Rate

Slow

Light

Sun to Part Shade

Soil

Well Drained

Water

Low

Hardiness

Zone Zones 3a–8b

Origin

Europe

Phenological Calendar

Stage	Typical Window	What to Look For
Spring green-up BBCH 09	Feb 1–Mar 15	Early green-up; slower than F. rubra; gradual color development in late winter
Active vegetative growth BBCH 21	Mar 15–Apr 30	Fine-textured new growth; denser than red fescue
Peak spring growth BBCH 39	May 1–Jun 30	Slower growth than F. rubra; mowing needed every 10–14 days
Summer stress period BBCH 45	Jul 1–Sep 1	Minimal growth; excellent drought tolerance. Recovers well from dormancy without irrigation.
Winter semi-dormancy BBCH 97	Nov 15–Feb 1	Remains green through mild western WA winters; essentially dormant

Diseases (2)

Laetisaria fuciformis Red Thread Typhula incarnata and T Typhula Snow Mold

Pests (1)

Tipula paludosa European Crane Fly

Cultivars (1)

''General category''

Hard fescue cultivars are extremely low-maintenance. Blue-green leaf color. Slowest growing of the fine fescues. Many modern cultivars developed for low-input turf, roadsides, and conservation areas.