Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season perennial, C3 pathway
Grass Family
Poaceae, Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - generic variety visible
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for cool-season types; performs well in the transition zone
About This Grass
Medium to dark green foliage forming distinct clumps. Visible as coarse patches in the user image, showing a robust upright growth and a slightly glossy appearance on the blade underside.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), pointed tips, prominent veins on the upper surface, rolled vernation, no auricles, short membranous ligule
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; slow recovery from damage due to lack of spreading structures
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone of the USA
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); very limited rhizome development in newer cultivars
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade; high drought tolerance for a cool-season grass; prefers pH 5.5-7.5
Mowing & Maintenance
2-4 inches height; low to medium maintenance; requires 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; requires overseeding to fill gaps
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance once established; resistant to most lawn diseases; high salt tolerance; poor self-repairing ability
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization; can be invasive in native meadows; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass for sod strength