California Fescue

A Multi-Purpose All-Star

by Elaine Kelly Applebaum

UC Master Gardener of Placer County

Are you looking for a small plant to add color or texture contrast to a shaded flower bed? Or maybe you need a deer-resistant groundcover for under an oak tree or to stabilize a slope. 

California fescue (Festuca californica)

Selected by the UC Davis Arboretum as both a “Future Favorite” and an “Arboretum All-Star,” California fescue (Festuca californica) is a versatile, native, bunch grass that can perform all these roles. Its blue-green blades grow in a clump two to three feet wide and slightly taller. In late spring to early summer, green flower spikes emerge above the clump, then turn purple, and age to yellow. Native to coastal areas of California and Oregon, this multi-purpose plant does best with afternoon or full shade in our hotter region. It is low water use and tolerates most soils, including serpentine. It provides habitat for butterflies, moths and caterpillars and needs very little maintenance. For more information please see: https://calscape.org/Festuca-californica-(California-Fescue).

What role can California fescue play in your garden?

Garden Q&As

by Linda Wold and Lynn Merrick

UC Master Gardeners of Placer County

What are some winter gardening tasks that are commonly overlooked?

Our mild winters can often lead to neglected seasonal tasks, but tackling them now can yield great benefits when spring arrives. Here are some essential winter chores you shouldn't ignore:

• Refresh your mulch: Apply an additional 2-4 inches of organic mulch around your garden beds to suppress weeds, maintain soil temperature, and retain moisture but keep a mulch-free area next to plant trunks and stems.
• Maintain your tools: Clean off rust, lubricate moving parts, and sharpen pruners to help minimize disease transmission and make pruning more efficient.
• Service your irrigation system: Flush the lines, inspect emitters and sprinklers for clogs or leaks, and adjust timers to account for the lower evaporation rates during cooler months.
• Check on young or delicate plants: Provide temporary windbreaks or frost covers to protect them during cold snaps and chilly nights and move containers into a garage or protected location.

For additional winter tasks, click here.



The Colorful Health Benefits of Variegated Water Celery

Article and photo by Lorie Lowrie

UC Master Gardener of Placer County 

Variegated water celery, botanically known as Oenanthe javanica 'Flamingo', is prized for its attractive tri-color foliage of green, cream, and pink. Beyond its ornamental appeal, this perennial herb—a relative of parsley—is recognized for its edible qualities and potential health benefits, echoing those of common celery.

Rich in bioactive compounds like phthalides and various flavonoids, Oenanthe javanica is traditionally used to support antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. It has also been explored for its potential in managing conditions such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia, suggesting a favorable role in cardiovascular health.

The young stems and leaves are edible, tasting like spicy parsley or celery, frequently used in salads and stir-fries, popular in Asian dishes. Grow it in moist soil or shallow water (1–2 inches deep), in full sun to part shade, allowing it to be an efficient nutrient filtration plant for water features. Control its rapid spread by frequently harvesting runners and cutting it back.