Festuca octoflora
Sixweeks grass
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Poaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Festuca octoflora (Sixweeks grass) is a native California annual in the Poaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by high floret count (7-12) per spikelet.
Sixweeks grass is a California native annual grass found in sandy to rocky open sites below 2,000 meters elevation. Flowering from March to June, this delicate grass produces small, dense inflorescences 4 to 16 centimeters long with pale green to straw-colored spikelets. Growing with slender stems up to 60 centimeters tall, it can be glabrous or slightly hairy. Its fine leaves are narrow and compact, typical of annual grasses in open habitats. When mature, the plant develops small fruits 2 to 3.5 millimeters long, allowing it to quickly complete its life cycle in seasonal environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species. Distinguished by high floret count (7-12) per spikelet
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy to rocky soils, open sites
Elevation: < 2000 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Inyo, Riverside, Mono, Santa Clara, Alameda, Orange, Sonoma, Imperial, Tulare, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Monterey
Outside California: widespread America, Europe
Bloom period
Festuca octoflora blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Bromus: Festuca sheaths split open; Bromus sheaths stay closed around the stem.; vs Lolium: Festuca spikelets branch from multiple points; Lolium spikelets sit flat against one side of stem.; vs Aciphylla: Festuca is a grass with thin blade leaves; Aciphylla has rigid spine-tipped tufts.; vs Poa: Festuca lemmas have 5+ veins; Poa lemmas show only 3-5 veins with cobwebby hairs at base.; vs Muhlenbergia: Festuca has multi-flowered chunky spikelets; Muhlenbergia has delicate single-flowered tiny spikelets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Festuca octoflora native to California?
Yes. Festuca octoflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Festuca octoflora bloom?
Festuca octoflora blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Festuca octoflora grow?
Festuca octoflora occurs in Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Inyo, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of < 2000 m.
What plant family does Festuca octoflora belong to?
Festuca octoflora is in the Poaceae family, genus Festuca.
What habitat does Festuca octoflora grow in?
Festuca octoflora grows in Sandy to rocky soils, open sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.