Spike Fescue
Festuca kingii
Last reviewed: August 2026
Toxicity unknown
Spike Fescue (Festuca kingii) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
CA, CO, ID, KS and 8 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 445 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Festuca kingii is a fine-textured native bunchgrass that forms compact, tidy clumps with blue-green foliage. This drought-tolerant grass maintains its evergreen appearance year-round and requires minimal maintenance once established. It works well as an accent plant or in mass plantings for texture and movement.
In an HOA neighborhood
Spike Fescue is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
Wildlife value
This native grass provides nesting material and seeds for birds, particularly finches and sparrows. The dense clumps offer shelter for small wildlife and beneficial insects.
Common questions
- How much sun does Spike Fescue need?
- Spike Fescue grows best in full sun conditions.
- Where is Spike Fescue native?
- Spike Fescue (Festuca kingii) is native to CA, CO, ID, KS and 8 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Spike Fescue HOA-friendly?
- Spike Fescue is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Spike Fescue? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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