Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 carbon fixation; well-adapted to the Transition Zone.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, also used for Sports Turf and Erosion Control.
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); specific cultivar unknown, but displays characteristics of modern deep-green, narrow-blade varieties like 'Titan Ltd' or 'Rebel'.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; exceptional heat tolerance for a cool-season grass and stays green through mild winters; goes dormant/brown in extreme cold.
About This Grass
A dense, bunching grass with a deep green color. Height ranges from 2-4 inches when maintained to 12-36 inches if left to flower. It features a medium-coarse texture and excellent upright growth.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium (3-4mm), flat, with a distinctly pointed tip. Top surface is dull with deep longitudinal veins; bottom is smooth and glossy. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is a short membrane; auricles are small/blunt or absent.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, often reaching 2-3 feet deep. Very low thatch tendency due to bunching habit. Fast establishment from seed and excellent wear recovery compared to other bunch grasses.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, performing best in temperate and transition climates.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, though some modern cultivars are breeding for limited 'short-rhizome' spreading.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers Full Sun but has moderate Shade Tolerance (4-6 hours min). Highly drought-tolerant for a cool-season grass due to deep roots. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3 to 4 inches. Frequency depends on growth rate (weekly in spring/fall). Needs 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually. Low to Medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance and high disease resistance (though susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity). Superior salt tolerance compared to bluegrass. Does not spread, so it won't invade flower beds.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization for slopes. Often contains endophytic fungi that provide natural resistance to leaf-feeding insects. Frequently mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass.