Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - generic multi-blend
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; best in the Transition Zone; high cold tolerance; better heat tolerance than other cool-season grasses.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass that forms dense clumps. It maintains a dark green color throughout the growing season and stays green longer into winter than warm-season grasses. Seed heads are open panicles produced in late spring.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (4-10mm); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip; dark green color; rolled vernation in the bud; prominent veins on the upper surface with a shiny underside; absent auricles and a short, membranous ligule.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought tolerance due to depth of extraction.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; naturalized throughout North America and Australia
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); some modern cultivars utilize short rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires at least 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but possesses high drought avoidance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; fertilization 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year; medium maintenance; does not spread effectively, requiring periodic overseeding.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance; high shade tolerance relative to other turf grasses; moderate salt tolerance; prone to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia solani) in high heat/humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for slopes; often mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass for better recovery; can be invasive in native prairie ecosystems.