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Products > Festuca californica 'River House Blues'   Festuca californica 'River House Blues' - California Fescue     [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Grass Family: Poaceae (Gramineae) (Grasses) Origin: California (U.S.A.) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Pink Bloomtime: Summer Height: 2-3 feet Exposure: Sun or Shade Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F Festuca californica 'River House Blues' (Ron's California Fescue) - An elegant evergreen (along coast) mid-sized bunch grass that forms fountain-like growth from tight clumps arching up to 2 feet tall by about as wide with chalky-blue foliage. In summer appear the elegant flower stalks that rise above the foliage an additional 2 to 3 feet with airy open sprays of pink-tinged flowers that age to a nice wheat color. Plant in full sun to shade and irrigate occasionally to infrequently. It is tolerant of a wide variety of soil types and is drought tolerant, particularly in shade plantings but looks best with an occasional watering. For the coast it is evergreen and in colder areas it is root hardy to around 0° F (USDA Zone 7). This grass is resistant to deer predation and great for massed plantings, slope stabilization and for planting as an understory for oak trees. The species is native to Oregon and California, where is grows throughout the state with concentrations in the Coastal Ranges from Santa Barbara county north and in the Sierra and Cascade Ranges. This selection, made by landscape architect Ron Lutsko, seems to be better suited to our conditions here in southern and central California than the cultivar 'Serpentine Blue'. We thank Carol Bornstein for providing us with the seed of this great grass. Images courtesy of Carol Bornstein.  This description is based on research and observations of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in our nursery garden and in other gardens that we visit. We also incorporate comments received and appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Festuca calif. 'River House Blues'.     [MORE INFO]