Festuca gautieri, commonly known as Bearskin Fescue, is an evergreen perennial grass native to the mountainous regions and rocky slopes of southwestern France, northern Spain, and parts of Morocco. It forms dense, cushion-like tufts reaching a height and width of approximately 0.3 feet (10 cm) to 0.5 feet (15 cm). Bearskin Fescue is characterized by its fine, needle-like leaves that create a spiky texture, and it produces inconspicuous greenish flowers in late spring to early summer.

Bearskin Fescue is valued for its low maintenance requirements, drought tolerance, and year-round visual interest, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens, alpine gardens, and as ground cover. It thrives in well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils and prefers full sun to part shade. While it tolerates a range of soil types, it performs best in soils that are moderately fertile and slightly acidic. This grass is also suitable for container planting, where its unique form can be showcased. Potential problems include root rot in poorly drained soils and susceptibility to rust in humid conditions. It is not known to be invasive and is generally pest-free.CC BY-SA 4.0