Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31) or similar coarse forage-type variety
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green until hard frost.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass forming dense clumps. It maintains a dark green color in cool weather but can look patchy in fine-leaf lawns. Seed heads are open panicles 4-12 inches long.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (>4mm), flat shape, pointed tip, dark green color, rolled vernation, prominent veins on the upper surface, lack of auricles, and a short membranous ligule.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; slow recovery from wear due to bunch growth; excellent drought avoidance due to depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone of the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with limited short rhizomes; lacks extensive spreading ability
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but possesses high drought tolerance; prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
3.0 to 4.0 inches height; weekly mowing; 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft annually; low to medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding to fill gaps.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance once established; good shade tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses; resistant to many common turf diseases like dollar spot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; provides forage for livestock and cover for small mammals; excellent for soil stabilization on slopes; can be invasive in native tallgrass prairies.