Festuca gautieri: planting, cutting & propagation

Festuca gautieri is a low-maintenance groundcover. Planted in the right location, it will add structure to your garden while being a compatible planting neighbour.

Festuca gautieri (Festuca gautieri, old F. scoparia) is a member of the fescue genus (Festuca) that is a filigree, wintergreen ornamental grass that requires little maintenance. The fine, needle-like leaves grow so close together that they resemble the fur of an animal. Festuca gautieri makes an excellent ground cover and structure builder. It helps to give a chic look to beds and borders, but also to the edges of open spaces. Even in a planter, Festuca gautieri makes for a minimalist decoration. Due to its site requirements, it is well suited for rock gardens and green roofs. For those looking for a low-maintenance ornamental grass, Festuca gautieri is an insider’s tip.

Festuca gautieri: origin and characteristics

Festuca gautieri grows naturally on gravel and rocky lawns in southwestern France and northeastern Spain. There are the Pyrenees, the namesakes of the name Pyrenean festuca. The climate of the Pyrenees is characterised by wet winters and dry summers. Especially in summer there are few clouds, which leads to high solar radiation. Temperatures then climb up to 28 °C. In the rainy spring, daytime temperatures range from 16 to 24 °C.

In addition to the names Festuca gautieri and Pyrenean fescue, this sweet grass is also known as bearskin fescue. The latter two terms are very ambiguous and can therefore be misunderstood when used.

How big does Festuca gautieri grow and what exactly does it look like? Festuca forms 10 to 20 cm flat, rarely sometimes 30 cm high, broadly cushiony clumps in fresh to dark green colour. The leaves are needle-shaped, quite fine and pointed, erect or slightly overhanging. Between them, thin flower stalks protrude between June and August, with spikes that appear green at first and yellow-brown later. For bees and insects, however, the barely 5 cm small, yellow-green flowers are rather uninteresting. On the other hand, the dense grass is a good hiding place for various insects, especially in the cold season, as Festuca gautieri is evergreen.

Is it possible to walk on Festuca gautieri? The tread resistance of the Pyrenean scallion cannot be compared to that of turf, despite its low growth height. Festuca gautieri is not tread resistant and therefore should not be planted in areas that have been walked on. However, putting a foot on it every now and then while grooming does not bother him much.

The most beautiful varieties

Breeding has resulted in different varieties within the species of bearskin fescue. There are only a few available on the market, some of which require a longer search:

• Festuca gautieri ‘Pic Carlit’: Growth height of culms max. 10 cm, brown flower.
• Festuca gautieri ‘Col de Bukhara’: Grows to 10 to 15 cm and also blooms brown
• Festuca gautieri ‘Hobbit’: 10 to 15 cm growth height of culms, purple-brown flower.

Those looking for red Festuca gautieri should check out the species Festuca amethystina, whose flower stalks are red-purple. Festuca glauca is interesting for those who are looking for a blue Festuca gautieri, because the leaves of that species have bluish hues. However, these variants do not grow as dense and furry as Festuca gautieri.

Planting Festuca gautieri: location, sowing and co.

As always, it is best to choose a site that is true to nature – because the grass is perfectly adapted to it. For Festuca gautieri, the ideal place is in sunny to partial shade on gravelly ground. The soil should be dry to fresh and well drained. Festuca gautieri likes a humus-rich substrate with low nitrogen availability. The pH value is ideally in the neutral to strongly acidic range. Suitable planting substrates are mixtures of humus-rich, slightly loamy sand with structural materials such as expanded clay, lava or granite gravel with the lowest possible lime and base contents. A mixing ratio of 60% growing soil and 40% structural materials is excellent. For example, our Plantura Organic Herb & Growing Soil is a perfect match for the low nutrient requirements of the bearskin fescue. This is because our soil intentionally contains fewer nutrients but more coarse material than normal potting soil to meet the needs of Mediterranean plants.

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Tip: The Festuca gautieri fits well in a rock garden. For inspiration on how to create a rock garden, see our dedicated article on the subject.

Despite liking the sun, Festuca gautieri likes it cool. A light breeze that permanently removes warm air is extremely good for him. Bear’s fescue is wonderful for greening a roof, as well as for slopes where it prevents erosion. Because these places are more exposed to both the sun and the wind than the ground level.

Festuca gautieri is equally suitable for container planting. Here, however, it is particularly susceptible to an excessive supply of nutrients. Normal potting soil is already pre-fertilised and not to use. For the container is more suitable the previously described mixture of 60% growing soil and 40% structural materials. It is important to ensure that the root ball does not dry out completely. Since waterlogging must also be avoided at all costs: Choose a pot from which excess water can drain.

Festuca gautieri is available as seed or young plant in pot. Container plants can be planted between March and October, provided that there is no severe summer heat above 30°C. Loosened, well-drained soil is important. Make sure that the planting distance between the specimens is about 40 cm. The horsts should never be lower than the soil level, but rather protrude slightly from the planting hole.

Tip: The Festuca gautieri is attributed to the sociability level II: Three to five plants set together look the most attractive and can thrive.

When sowing Festuca gautieri, it should be noted that it belongs to the light germinators and, accordingly, should not be covered with soil. In a pot with potting soil, the seeds can be grown indoors. Our Plantura Organic Herb & Seeding Compost is also excellent for sowing, as the low nutrient content animates the roots to go in search of nutrients on their own, so they develop more vigorously. The seeds are only lightly pressed on the growing soil and then sprayed with water. Make sure the room temperatures are rather cool. To keep the humidity permanently high, it is recommended to put a plastic bag over the pot. Airing several times a day prevents mould growth. For sowing indoors is best suited early spring. The germination period is from four to eight weeks. After another four to eight weeks, the plants can be pricked out and then planted out in frost-free weather.

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Direct sowing into the field is possible between late fall and early spring with ripe seeds is also possible. At 10 to 12 °C, very fresh seeds often need only a week to germinate. Because the seedlings are almost indistinguishable from weeds and should develop well, we also recommend sowing in pots outside.

Combining Festuca gautieri:

Festuca gautieri serves as a ground cover and structure builder – but on its own it quickly looks drab and unspectacular. Fortunately, Festuca gautieri gets along with other accent plants. Optimal for this purpose are plants with similar requirements – a lot of sun, low nutrient requirements, low-calcium and permeable soil and preferably windy location.

Festuca gautieri and lavender harmonize in one location, provided the soil has a neutral pH. Finally, Lavender (Lavendula) – unlike Festuca gautieri – loves a calcareous soil. Other plants fit even better, such as alpine, acid-loving. For example, they can be perfectly combined in an “alpine bed”.

Overview: combine Festuca gautieri

• Bergenia (Bergenia), Carpathian foam cress (Arabis procurrens), magnificent candles (Gaura lindheimeri), catmint (Nepeta), arnica (Arnica montana), cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea).
• Some broom (Genista), including: German broom (Genista germanica), English broom (Genista anglica), hairy broom (Genista pilosa), common wing broom (Genista sagittalis).
• Common houseleeks (Sempervivum), stonecrop (Sedum).
• Gerard’s bluegrass (Andropogon gerardii), prairie beardgrass (Andropogon scoparius).

The right care

In principle, the bearskin fescue is undemanding. It grows slowly, does not require pruning and rarely needs fertilizing or watering. After a few years, the grass cushion may become too dense, causing plants to smother each other or compete for soil. It is then necessary to prune or even dig up the individual eyries, divide them and replant them elsewhere. In winter, bearskin fescue in the pot must be protected from freezing through.

Pruning, watering and fertilising Festuca gautieri

Basically, the Festuca gautieri does not need to be cut. Only to prevent self-seeding, the ears can be removed before maturity. Cut back the faded flowerheads to encourage new shoots the following year. The time for this is September to October. In the spring, unsightly stalks can be removed. Those who want to perform topiary, you can do it all year around. It is best to rejuvenate senescent pads, as the old culms deprive the new ones of light and air. In the process, better not injure the fresh shoots.

Bearskin fescue only need watering during very high summer temperatures with prolonged drought. This is the case at most between May and September. If growing in a pot, make sure that the root ball does not dry out completely – but avoid waterlogging at all costs.

Fertiliser is best added to the planting hole once at the beginning of the growing season, when the horsts are dug for division in the spring. For this purpose, use a product such as our Plantura Flower Food. This has a rather low nitrogen content, as optimal for Festuca. The slow-flowing, microbially mediated release ensures that Festuca gautieri does not suffer from nutrient excess.

Festuca gautieri turns yellow: what to do?

Your Festuca gautieri is turning brown or yellow? This may be due to the fact that two eyries collided, arched up, lost contact with the ground and partially died. You can prevent the brown edges by timely pruning of the eyries and adequate planting distance. Overfertilisation can also be the because. Potted plants then need to change the soil, but in the bed abundant watering.

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Tip: Do not fertilise in the fall, so as not to compromise winter hardiness and thus harvest yellow stalks due to frost damage.

If senescence is the reason for browning, the old culms must be cut in the spring to make way for the new ones. As a rule, this is rarely necessary. If the location is too wet as the because, the plants must be dug up and the soil loosened with plenty of structural materials or planted in another, more suitable location.

At a glance: Properly care for Festuca gautieri

• Remove immature ears if self-seeding is to be avoided. Also stimulates the new shoots of the grass
• Watering during extreme drought
• Water potted plants when the root ball is dry, avoid waterlogging at all costs.
• At the beginning of the growing season, add low-nitrogen flower fertiliser to the planting hole

Is Festuca gautieri hardy?

The evergreen Festuca gautieri belongs to the winter hardiness zone Z4 and therefore hardy up to – 34.5 °C. The leaves remain green throughout the winter and provide a nice accent among the otherwise mostly dead plants in the bed. In principle, no special protection is necessary, but a cover with some brushwood will help prevent leaf damage from too intense winter sun.

If grown in a pot, the root ball must be protected from freezing through. This is achieved by wrapping the vessel with jute or other light insulating materials. In addition, the pot should be placed on polystyrene or a wooden board in a sheltered place. This place should be frost-free, but not too warm – that is, below 10 °C.

Propagation

There are two ways to propagate Festuca gautieri: One is by seed, and the other is by division. The ears standing on the thin long stands bear many seeds. These can be harvested after ripening, when they are brown, and sown between late fall and early spring – as described above. Because the seeds’ inhibition to germination is broken down by exposure to cold, they are stored in the refrigerator until sowing on the desired date.

Tip: Possibly the Festuca gautieri seeds germinate even without cold stimulus – but this can not be guaranteed. The fresher the seeds, the higher the chances.

Wide-grown eyries can and should be divided approximately every two years. To do this, dig them up and cut them into smaller pieces with a sharp knife. Old eyries may require a spade or even a hatchet. Replant them in new locations, with adequate planting spacing and an application of compost.

Is bearskin fescue poisonous?

Festuca gautieri is not toxic to humans or animal visitors. However, as an ornamental plant, it is not meant to be consumed anyway.

In addition to Festuca gautieri, there are numerous other winter-hardy groundcovers as well as winter-hardy perennials that will keep your garden alive all year long.