Bear-skin fescue (Festuca gautieri)
Bear-skin fescue is a perennial tussock grass up to 20 cm tall. It has low palatability for livestock and could become dominant in areas such as the southern highlands of NSW.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Bear-skin fescue is a perennial tussock grass which is unpalatable to livestock. It may become a dominant species in suitable habitats such as the southern highlands of NSW. It has been traded as a garden ornamental but is not yet known to have escaped cultivation in Australia.
What does it look like?
Bear-skin fescue grows in small round pin cushion like tussocks.
Leaves are:
- bright green to bluish grey
- very fine and thread-like
- 0.4–0.7 mm wide
- smooth
- straight or curved with a pointed tip.
Flowers:
- are on stems 20–50 cm long and up to 1.7 mm in diameter.
- form on smaller branching stems (called panicles) 4.5–7 cm long
- are spikelets, 9–11 mm long.
Seeds are:
- broadly oval-to-oblong shaped
- present in summer.
Where is it found?
Bear-skin fescue is native to south western France and north eastern Spain. It is a weed of grazing land in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
Bear-skin fescue was introduced into Australia as an ornamental garden plant. It has not yet naturalised in Australia.
What type of environment does it grow in?
Bear-skin fescue prefers well-drained soils and cooler climates. It is drought and heat tolerant. It could become a pasture weed in the southern highlands of NSW.
How does it spread?
Bear-skin fescue flowers in summer and can spread vegetatively or by seed. Old plants tend to spread outwards while dying back in the centre of the tussock.
More information
Control
Successful weed control requires follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.
To manage bear-skin fescue control plants before they flower in summer, to stop seed set. Check the area and control new plants as they appear.
Physical removal
Before removing this species, cut off any seedheads and dispose of them. Dig up and remove adult plants, any fallen seed and any soil containing seed around the plant.
Disposal
Contact your local council for advice on how to dispose of this weed.
Chemical control
Spot spray actively growing plants. Cover all of the foliage.
Herbicide options
WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
See Using herbicides for more information.
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 10 mL per 1 L water
Comments: Spot spray. For general weed control in Domestic areas (Home gardens), Commercial, Industrial and Public Service areas, Agricultural buildings and other farm situations.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Biosecurity duty
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
| Area | Duty |
|---|---|
| All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.
Reviewed 2025
