Suomi
Svenska
Red Fescue
Festuca rubra
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Red fescue is a fine‑leaved perennial grass that forms loose tufts and also spreads with runners. It is common in meadows, pastures, shores and along roadsides, and is familiar from hayfields and many lawns. The flower clusters are often tinged reddish‑purple, which gives the species its name.
Did you know?
- A key grass in many lawn seed mixes and pasture fields; it tolerates close mowing.
- Its flowers are wind‑pollinated, and the clusters often show a reddish tint.
About the species
Identification
A loosely tufted grass, 30–70 cm tall, that also spreads with creeping runners. Leaves are very narrow and soft: those near the base can be thread‑like, the ones on the stem still narrow (a few mm), green to bluish and with fine grooves on top. The bases of the leaves often look reddish or purplish and may be slightly hairy. The flower head is an upright, rather loose cluster 5–15 cm long, usually with a reddish‑purple tint. Each tiny unit has a short, fine bristle at the tip. Compared to sheep fescue, its leaves are softer and not stiff or wiry. Flowers in Finland in June–July.
Plant group
Grasses, sedges and rushes
Habitat
meadow, shore, fell
Flowering
Jun–Jul
About the habitat
Grows in open, sunny places: meadows and hayfields, shores, fields, roadsides and waste ground. It also thrives in managed grass areas such as lawns and pastures. Common throughout the country.
Sources
Photo: A Hill, CC0 1.0 https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/6273154668
Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki leviäimet, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40438
Text: Pinkka: A Pohjolan kasveja - Gagea-Hepatica, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40438
Text: Pinkka: BIO-516 Hyötykasvit - Rehukasveja, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40438
Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punanata
