Looking for a drought-resistant plant that can handle constant cutting and grows well in shallow chalky soil? Look no further than Festuca ovina var. duriuscula, also known as Hard Fescue or Sheep Fescue. This densely tufted perennial grass is wind-pollinated and flowers from May until June. It's not just a robust plant, but an important food source for caterpillars of several butterflies and moths, such as the Gatekeeper and the Meadow Brown. Sheep's fescue is commonly found on poor, well-drained mineral soil, as well as acidic bogs in Scotland's Portlethen Moss and mountain pastures throughout Europe and Asia. It's even been introduced to North America and used as a drought-tolerant lawn grass. With greyish-green, bristle-like leaves and slightly feathery one-sided panicles, Sheep Fescue is both pretty and practical.