Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue)
Cool season, drought-tolerant perennial bunchgrass. Mostly adapted to deep, fertile, heavy soils, but will occur on thin well drained coarse sites. Seedlings are weakly competitive but once established mature stands are strongly competitive. Good palatability to livestock and wildlife. Varieties listed below.
DISTRIBUTION / ADAPTATION
INFORMATION & ATTRIBUTES
Family: Poaceae
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Graminoid
Native Status: Introduced
Season: Cool
Growth Form: Bunchgrass
Mature Height: 24 in.
Annual Precipitation: 12-24 in.
Drought Tolerance: Low
Shade Tolerance: Intermediate
Elevation:
Fire Resistance: No
Fire Tolerance: Medium
SOIL ADAPTATION
Coarse Texture: Yes
Medium Texture: Yes
Fine Texture: Yes
Salinity Tolerance: None
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
pH Range: 5.6-8.4
SEEDING NOTES
Seeds per Pound: 450,000
Seeding Rate: 3-6 PLS lbs/acre
Season: Spring/Fall
Days to Germination:
VARIETIES & LOCAL ACCESSIONS
CTUIR - Source Identified selection from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Umatilla County, OR averaging 12-17 in. annual precipitation.
Joseph - Developed from 13 clones. Taller, more uniform and achieves greater basal density than Nezpurs. (Released 1983)
Nezpurs - Developed from 90 clones. High seed producer with good seedling vigor and germination. More plant variability than Joseph. (Released 1983)
Winchester - Source Identified selection from Lewis County, ID averaging 18 in. annual precipitation.