Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - specific cultivar likely 'Rebel' or 'Titan' series due to the medium-fine blade width and dark green color.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7. Known for excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass and good cold hardiness. It goes semi-dormant in extreme summer heat or winter cold.
About This Grass
A robust, deep-rooted cool-season grass with a dense, tufted growth habit. It maintains a dark green color throughout much of the year, including during mild winters. When unmowed, it can reach heights of 3-4 feet with nodding panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Medium blade width (approx. 3-5mm), flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip. Color is a deep, rich green. Vernation is rolled in the bud. The upper surface has prominent, coarse veins/ridges; the underside is smooth and glossy. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (never clasping).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet deep), which provides excellent drought avoidance. Slow to form thatch. Establishment is moderately fast from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; naturalized throughout the United States, especially in the Transition Zone and Pacific Northwest.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with limited short rhizomes in newer turf-type varieties. Low rate of lateral spread; forms a dense mat but does not self-repair quickly.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Shade (highly versatile). Requires moderate watering to remain green in summer, though highly drought tolerant. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended mowing height is 3 to 4 inches. Frequency should be once a week. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft annually. Low to medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding due to its bunching habit.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear tolerance for foot traffic, high disease resistance to brown patch (in modern cultivars), and the best shade tolerance of the common cool-season turfgrasses.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Widely used for soil erosion control on slopes. Often contains beneficial endophytes (fungi) that provide natural resistance to leaf-feeding insects. Often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass for improved sod knitting.