Plants densely cespitose, without rhizomes; usually not glaucous. Culms (10)30–50(70) cm, glabrous, smooth. Sheaths closed for about 1/2 their length, glabrous, smooth or scabrous distally, persistent; collars glabrous; ligules shorter than 0.3 mm; blades 0.3–0.7(1.2) mm in diameter, conduplicate, abaxial surfaces smooth or scabrous, adaxial surfaces scabrous, veins 5–7(9), ribs 1–3, indistinct; abaxial sclerenchyma usually a continuous band; adaxial sclerenchyma absent. Inflorescences (2)5–10(12) cm, contracted, with 1–2(3) branches per node; branches usually erect, sometimes spreading at anthesis, lower branches with 2+ spikelets. Spikelets 4–6(7.3) mm, with 3–6(8) florets. Glumes exceeded by the upper florets, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, mostly smooth and glabrous, sometimes scabrous distally; lower glumes 1–2(3) mm; upper glumes (2.2)2.6–4(4.6) mm; lemmas (2.6)3–4(5) mm, ovate-lanceolate, mostly smooth, sometimes scabrous or hispid near the apices, awns 0.5–2 mm, terminal, sometimes absent; paleas about equal to the lemmas, intercostal region puberulent distally; anthers (1.4)2–2.6 mm; ovary apices glabrous. 2n = 14, 28.
Festuca ovina was introduced from Europe as a turf grass. It is not presently used in the North American seed trade. The sporadic occurrences are mostly from old lawns and cemeteries, or sites seeded for soil stabilization.