Grasses ·Growing Guide
Festulolium
×Festulolium (Festuca × Lolium intergeneric hybrid)
FestuloliumGrassesModerate Maintenance
A purpose-bred hybrid combining the best traits of two grass families: Ryegrass speed and palatability crossed with Fescue persistence and drought tolerance. Festulolium (×Festulolium) is an intergeneric hybrid—a cross between species in different genera, which is rare in agriculture. The result is a grass that establishes as fast as r...
Shop Wicked Tuff Turf →Overview
About Festulolium
Festulolium represents one of the most successful intergeneric crosses in forage breeding. By combining Lolium (Ryegrass) with Festuca (Fescue), breeders created a grass that bridges the gap between the two genera:
From Ryegrass parents: Fast germination (5-7 days), high sugar content animals prefer, excellent palatability and digestibility, rapid establishment
From Fescue parents: Deeper root system (4-6 inches), drought tolerance, winter persistence, longer stand life
The most common types are Lolium multiflorum × Festuca pratensis (Italian Ryegrass × Meadow Fescue, marketed as 'Duo') and Lolium perenne × Festuca pratensis (Perennial Ryegrass × Meadow Fescue). The Duo type appears in the Tuff Turf Grazing Lawn Mix at 40% because its combination of animal palatability and regrowth speed is unmatched by any non-hybrid species.
Festulolium is primarily a forage and pasture grass, not a turf grass. However, its fast establishment and moderate texture make it suitable for dual-purpose lawn/grazing applications where animal use is part of the management plan.
From Ryegrass parents: Fast germination (5-7 days), high sugar content animals prefer, excellent palatability and digestibility, rapid establishment
From Fescue parents: Deeper root system (4-6 inches), drought tolerance, winter persistence, longer stand life
The most common types are Lolium multiflorum × Festuca pratensis (Italian Ryegrass × Meadow Fescue, marketed as 'Duo') and Lolium perenne × Festuca pratensis (Perennial Ryegrass × Meadow Fescue). The Duo type appears in the Tuff Turf Grazing Lawn Mix at 40% because its combination of animal palatability and regrowth speed is unmatched by any non-hybrid species.
Festulolium is primarily a forage and pasture grass, not a turf grass. However, its fast establishment and moderate texture make it suitable for dual-purpose lawn/grazing applications where animal use is part of the management plan.
Fit
Where It Shines
Best for
- Livestock grazing systems (cattle, sheep, goats, horses)
- Dual-purpose lawn/pasture properties
- Pasture renovation where ryegrass persistence is a problem
- High-sugar forage programs for improved livestock nutrition
- Homesteads with poultry and small animal grazing
- Quick pasture establishment with long-term persistence
- Blending into grazing lawn mixes
Not ideal for
- Ornamental lawns (too coarse for pure turf use)
- Properties without grazing animals (forage traits are wasted)
- Fine-textured lawn aesthetics
- Deep shade
- Stand-alone residential turf
From Seed to Stand
Establishment & Growth
Germination
Days 5-7: First seedlings emerge. Days 7-10: Full germination flush. Establishment speed comparable to Perennial Ryegrass—one of the fastest-establishing forage grasses.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type to semi-spreading depending on cross type. Vigorous tillering. Rapid regrowth after cutting or grazing.
Establishment Timeline
First emergence: 5-7 days. Grazable: 6-8 weeks. Mature stand: 6-12 months.
Rates & Care
Seeding & Maintenance
| Seeding rate (new) | 25-35 lbs per acre (pasture); 6-8 lbs per 1,000 sq ft (turf applications) |
|---|---|
| Overseeding rate | 15-20 lbs per acre |
| Soil temp to germinate | 50°F |
| Mowing height | 3.0-4.0 inches (turf); 4-6 inches pre-grazing |
| Minimum mow height | 2.5 inches |
| First mow | When grass reaches 4-5 inches |
| Soil pH | 5.5-7.0 |
| Soil preference | Adaptable. Inherits soil tolerance from fescue parent. Performs across loam, clay loam, and sandy loam. |
| Nitrogen needs | 2-4 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft (or 60-120 lbs N per acre for forage production) |
Conditions
Tolerances
SunFull sun to moderate sun (4-8 hours)
ShadeModerate
DroughtGood (inherits from fescue parent)
TrafficModerate to High
ColdGood to Excellent
HeatModerate to Good (better than pure ryegrass)
Hardiness Zones3-7
Step by Step
How to Sow
1
Step 1: Prep
Prep bed or broadcast on short-mowed sod
2
Step 2: Fertilize
Apply starter fertilizer
3
Step 3: Sow
Spread seed at 25-35 lbs (pasture) or 6-8 lbs (turf)
4
Step 4: Contact
Lightly rake or press into surface; roll
5
Step 5: Water
Water consistently for 2 weeks
6
Step 6: Mow/Establish
Expect green in 5-7 days; graze when 4-6"
Feeding & Timing
Fertilizing & Season
Fertilizer Recommendation
Apply 60-120 lbs N per acre annually for forage production. Responds vigorously to nitrogen with increased yield and quality. Split applications work best. Grazing animals return significant nutrients via manure. Recommended: Wicked Growth commercial fertilizer program.
Find the right Wicked fertilizer →Seasonal Planting
Best planted late August through September (zones 4-6). Spring planting (April-May) also very effective—Festulolium's fast establishment makes it one of the most forgiving forage grasses for spring seeding. Its ryegrass-like speed means it can be planted later in fall than pure fescues.
In Context
How It Compares
Festulolium vs. Perennial Ryegrass: Similar establishment speed and palatability, but Festulolium persists longer through drought and cold. Festulolium vs. Meadow Fescue: Festulolium establishes faster and is more palatable; Meadow Fescue is the fescue parent species with better wet-soil tolerance. Festulolium vs. Tall Fescue: Festulolium is more palatable to livestock; Tall Fescue has deeper roots and broader soil adaptability. Festulolium is the choice when you want ryegrass performance with fescue persistence.
Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Festulolium and how is it created?
Festulolium (×Festulolium) is an intergeneric hybrid created by crossing ryegrass (Lolium) with fescue (Festuca) species. The goal is to combine ryegrass's fast establishment, palatability, and high sugar content with fescue's persistence, drought tolerance, and winter hardiness. Different crosses produce different characteristics—Duo Festulolium specifically crosses Italian ryegrass with meadow fescue, creating a forage grass that animals love to eat and that recovers quickly from grazing.
What is Duo Festulolium?
Duo is a specific Festulolium variety crossing Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) × meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis). It inherits Italian ryegrass's fast establishment (germination in 5-7 days), high sugar content, and palatability, combined with meadow fescue's persistence and winter hardiness. Duo produces more forage in year one than meadow fescue alone and persists longer than Italian ryegrass alone. It is the anchor species in the Wicked Tuff Turf Grazing Lawn Mix at 40% of the blend.
How long does Festulolium persist?
Festulolium persistence depends on the specific cross. Duo Festulolium (Italian ryegrass × meadow fescue) typically persists 2-4 years—longer than Italian ryegrass (1-2 years) but shorter than meadow fescue (5-8 years). Festulolium crosses involving perennial ryegrass × tall fescue may persist longer. Rotational grazing with adequate rest periods maximizes stand life. Plan to overseed Festulolium-based pastures every 2-3 years to maintain density.
What is the seeding rate for Festulolium?
Seed Festulolium at 25-35 lbs per acre for pure stands, or 10-15 lbs per acre in mixes with other grasses and legumes. For small areas, use approximately 0.5-1 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Plant 0.25-0.5 inches deep on a firm seedbed. Festulolium establishes quickly—often producing grazeable growth within 45-60 days of planting. Its rapid establishment makes it useful for pasture renovation where fast ground cover is needed.
Is Festulolium more palatable than regular fescue?
Yes. Festulolium consistently tests higher in sugar content (water-soluble carbohydrates) and digestibility than meadow fescue or tall fescue alone. Livestock given a choice between Festulolium and standard fescue preferentially graze the Festulolium. The higher sugar content from the ryegrass parent improves both palatability and feed conversion (animal weight gain per unit of forage consumed). This palatability advantage is the primary reason Festulolium is gaining popularity in northern forage systems.
When should I plant Festulolium?
Plant Festulolium in late summer (August-September) for best results, or in spring (April-May). Like its ryegrass parent, Festulolium germinates quickly (5-10 days) and establishes rapidly. Late summer planting provides fall growth for root development before winter. In zones 4-6, plant by mid-September. Spring plantings produce harvestable forage by mid-summer. Festulolium tolerates a wide range of soil types with pH 5.5-7.0 and moderate fertility.
What are the best uses for Festulolium?
Festulolium is best suited for intensive grazing systems (especially rotational grazing with dairy cattle, sheep, or goats), silage production, homestead grazing lawns, and pasture renovation where fast establishment and high palatability are priorities. It is included in the Wicked Tuff Turf Grazing Lawn Mix specifically for properties integrating poultry, rabbits, or small livestock. Festulolium is not typically used for hay because its high moisture content makes field drying difficult.
