The dark green upper sides of the leaves are deeply grooved.

It can be found on all types of grassland, although it prefers poorly drained soil.

It forms a major component of the British NVC community MG9 - Holcus lanatus to Deschampsia cespitosa mesotrophic grasslands.

It can exist up to altitudes of 4000 ft.[4] Typical native grass associates in the western North American coastal prairies, such as the California coastal prairie, are Festuca californica, Festuca idahoensis, Danthonia californica, and Nassella pulchra.

The cultivars 'Goldschleier' and 'Goldtau' [7] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.