Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass; also used for Forage and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a blend of older and newer cultivars based on the varying clump sizes and drought stress patterns.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass and moderate cold hardiness. It does not go winter dormant as early as warm-season grasses.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass that forms dense individual clumps. In the image, it exhibits a medium to dark green color in irrigated/shaded areas and a tan/straw color where it has entered summer dormancy. It maintains a vertical growth habit compared to spreading grasses.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (4-10mm width) with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface. The tips are pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. It typically lacks auricles and has a short, membranous ligule.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, often extending 2-3 feet deep, providing superior drought resistance compared to Kentucky Bluegrass. It has low thatch-forming tendency and slow lateral recovery due to its bunch-type nature.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across the United States, particularly in the Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, resulting in the patchy, tufted appearance visible in the dry areas of the image.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; highly versatile. Requires approximately 1-1.5 inches of water per week to stay green during summer, though it can survive extended dry periods by going dormant (as seen in the parched sections of the lawn).
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height is 3.0 to 4.0 inches. Higher mowing promotes deeper roots and better shade tolerance. Requires 2-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually, primarily in the fall. Low to medium maintenance.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance for foot traffic, excellent drought avoidance due to deep roots, and significantly better shade tolerance than Bermuda or Kentucky Bluegrass. Poor self-repairing ability if patches die out.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides soil stabilization on slopes due to deep roots. In pasture settings, often contains a fungal endophyte that confers pest resistance but can be toxic to some livestock unless 'endophyte-free' varieties are used.