Fine Fescue (Red Fescue / Chewings Fescue)
Festuca rubra
Poaceae · grass grasslike · native
Last updated
Excellent for shaded lawns and low-maintenance areas. Can be used alone (3 lb/1000 sqft) or in mixture with colonial bentgrass (Chewings 2.5 lb + bentgrass 0.5 lb). Most drought-tolerant cool-season grass – ideal for homeowners who prefer not to irrigate. Common in eco-lawn and pollinator lawn seed mixes.
Plant Profile
Size & Form
Height
6–24 in
Spread
Red fescue spreads slowly by short rhizomes; Chewings fescue is bunch-type
Growth Rate
Slow
Site Requirements
Light
Sun to Part Shade
Soil Drainage
Well Drained
Soil pH
5.5–6.5
Water
Low
Drought Tolerance
Moderate to high
Hardiness
Zones 2a–8b
Ornamental Interest
Origin
Circumboreal; Chewings fescue from New Zealand
Diseases: Regionally Documented (1)
Diseases: Other Associations (2)
Pests: Other Associations (1)
Phenological Calendar
View full calendar (5 stages)
| Stage | Typical Window |
|---|---|
| Spring green-up BBCH 09 | Feb 1–Mar 1 |
| Active vegetative growth BBCH 21 | Mar 1–Apr 15 |
| Peak spring growth BBCH 39 | Apr 15–Jun 15 |
| Summer stress period BBCH 45 | Jul 1–Sep 1 |
| Winter semi-dormancy BBCH 97 | Nov 15–Feb 1 |
Cultivars (2)
'ssp. rubra (Creeping Red Fescue)'
Spreads by short rhizomes; forms a loose, fine-textured turf. Most shade-tolerant of cool-season lawn grasses. Superior drought recovery due to rhizomatous spread.
Ideal for shaded areas under trees; tolerates dry shade better than any other lawn species
'ssp. commutata (Chewings Fescue)'
Bunch-type (no rhizomes); denser, more upright growth than creeping red. Named for George Chewing of New Zealand who first exported it commercially. Slightly more aggressive than creeping red in competition.
Good in mixtures with perennial ryegrass and colonial bentgrass for western WA
Data Maturity Baseline Extension data. Expert review underway.