Bear-skin Fescue

• Bear-skin fescue is a declared weed in Tasmania under the Tasmanian Biosecurity Act 2019 ​and associated Regulations. The importation, sale and distribution of bear-skin fescue are prohibited in Tasmania.
• The legal responsibilities of landholders and other stakeholders in dealing with bear-skin fescue are laid out in the bear-skin fescue Statutory Weed Management Plan.

What does bear-skin fescue look like?​

• Bear-skin fescue is a showy, perennial (long-lived), tussock-forming grass that grows in a pin-cushion-like form to around 25 cm height. 
• The leaves are needle-like and sharp, bright green to bluish-grey in colour, and around 5 to 15 cm long. 
• The flowering stems are 20 to 50 cm long and bear the flowers on a 4.5 to 7 cm long seed head (or panicle). 
• Each panicle bears a few flowers (spikelets) that are 9 to 11 mm long.
• Bear-skin fescue flowers in summer. 
• Spread is by seed and by vegetative means. 
• Older plants spread outward while dying off in the centre of the tussock. 
• Bear-skin fescue is used as a garden and ornamental bonsai plant and can be spread as part of the ornamental plant trade.

​Impacts of bear-skin fescue​

​Bear-skin fescue is a potential weed of grazing areas.

Where does bear-skin fescue occur​

• Bear-skin fescue is a native to south-western France and north-eastern Spain. 
• Bear-skin fescue is a weed of grazing land in Britain and the United States of America.
• Bear-skin fescue has not naturalised anywhere in Australia.