Lolium pratense, meadow fescue is a perennial species of grass, which is often used as an ornamental in gardens, and is also an important forage crop. It grows in meadows, roadsides, old pastures, and riversides on moist, rich soils, especially on loamy and heavy soils.

While tall fescue has a slight edge on yield, meadow fescue has been found to have superior neutral detergent fiber digestibility and is much more palatable as a pasture species.

It also grows well on poorer soils, some evidence suggests that on low fertility areas without nitrogen fertiliser, it can out yield perennial ryegrass. A perennial species. It can be grazed by livestock. Its wide leaves make it a useful hay meadow grass. Very winter hardy.

Two important events occurred that caused the research of meadow fescue as an option for intensive rotational grazing pastures to get underway. One was a request by some graziers in the Southern Wisconsin Farmers Research Network to conduct some research on pasture grasses.

Apr 1, 2019 · Tall fescue and meadow fescue are similar with meadow fescue being used sparingly for overseeding in warm-season turf or as a forage grass and tall fescue commonly being used in lawns, roadsides and pastures.

The most common of the genus is the Meadow Fescue, which was introduced from Europe many years ago. For so tall a grass the smooth stems are quite slender, and with their tapering, shining leaves are a wide contrast to Timothy, which begins to bloom before the Meadow Fescue has faded, and is so often associated with it in the fields.

Meadow fescue is a very persistent forage grass and can be grown successfully in a wide range of soils. It has early spring growth and does not require high temperatures for active growth. It is very winter hardy and it appreciates a high soil moisture content.

Meadow Fescue Festuca pratensis Grass family (Poaceae) Description: This perennial grass is about 1½–4' tall, forming tufts of leafy culms that are ascending to erect. The culms are light to medium green, terete, and glabrous. Several alternate leaves …

Meadow fescue is a semi-bunch type, cool season, European grass that has great winter hardiness. It will yield slightly less than tall fescue and orchardgrass but has better fiber digestibility and palatability for grazing applications. Meadow fescue needs fertile soils for optimum performance.

The story of Hidden Valley meadow fescue begins in 1990 when Charles Opitz of Mineral Point, Wis., noticed an unknown grass growing in a remnant of an ancient oak savanna ecosystem near the location for a new milking parlor.