Tall Fescue (mixed with Fine Fescue)
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) blend
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-9; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green until hard frost; lacks true winter dormancy in warmer zones.
About This Grass
Medium to dark green foliage with a prominent upright growth habit. It forms a dense turf when seeded heavily but grows in distinct clumps if neglected. Texture is medium-coarse compared to the surrounding fine fescues.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 4-8mm; pointed tips; prominent parallel veins on the upper surface; underside is smooth and glossy. Vernation is rolled; auricles are absent or small and hairless; ligule is a short, blunt membrane.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; relatively fast establishment from seed; excellent wear recovery once mature.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone in North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with occasional short rhizomes in modern turf-type cultivars
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours minimum); moderate to high water needs during establishment but very drought tolerant once mature; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; requires 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; low to medium maintenance requirement.
Special Characteristics
High traffic tolerance; good resistance to Brown Patch and Leaf Spot; better shade tolerance than Kentucky Bluegrass; excellent for erosion control on slopes.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization; may have endophytic fungi that provide pest resistance; frequently used in mixes with Kentucky Bluegrass for genetic diversity.