Family: Poaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Festuca gautieri (bearskin fescue) is a low-growing, perennial grass native to mountainous regions of southwestern Europe. It forms dense, cushion-like mounds of fine, bright green foliage, giving it a soft, rounded appearance. This compact growth habit makes it popular in ornamental landscaping, especially for rock gardens, borders, and groundcover in well-drained soils. It is valued for its tidy form, drought tolerance, and minimal maintenance needs.

Risks & Threats
Although Festuca gautieri is not currently known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, it possesses traits that raise concern. Its ability to form dense mats and tolerate a range of conditions could allow it to spread beyond cultivation, potentially outcompeting low-growing native plants. In sensitive ecosystems, especially dry or alpine-like environments, it could alter plant communities and reduce biodiversity. Because of these risks, it is considered a high-risk species with the potential to negatively impact tropical island ecosystems if introduced and established.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability
  
• History of repeated introductions outside native range
  
• Agricultural/horticultural weed
  
• Congeneric weed
  
• Allelopathic
  
• Unpalatable to grazing animals
  
• Host for pests and pathogens
  
• Creates fire hazard
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Tolerates wide range of soil conditions
  
• Produces viable seed
  
• Hybridizes naturally
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Vegetative reproduction
  
• Dispersed intentionally by people
  
• Dispersed as a produce contaminant
  
• Dispersed by wind, water, birds, and externally by animals
  
• Tolerates mutilation, cultivation, and fire

Low Risk Traits:

• Not native or naturalized in tropical regions
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Non-toxic to animals or humans
  
• No persistent seed bank (seeds viable <1 year)
  
• Propagules do not survive gut passage