Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Home Lawns, Sports Turf
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7 (Transitions Zone); High heat tolerance and good cold hardiness; no true winter dormancy (stays green longer than warm-season grasses).
About This Grass
A hardy, deep-rooted grass with a medium-coarse texture and a bright to dark green color. It grows in dense clumps and is known for its upright growth habit and ability to stay green during heat stress.
Blade Characteristics
Width: 3-10mm (medium to coarse); Shape: Flat; Tip: Pointed; Color: Medium to dark emerald green; Vernation: Rolled; Texture: Distinctly ridged on the upper surface with a smooth underside; Ligule: Short, membranous; Auricles: Small, blunt/rounded (hairy or absent).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet deep), low thatch tendency, slow to moderate establishment from seed, excellent wear recovery for a bunch-type grass.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, specifically the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with limited short rhizomes in newer turf-type varieties
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Shade (excellent shade tolerance for a cool-season grass); 4-6 hours minimum sun; moderate water needs; highest drought tolerance among cool-season grasses.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height: 3.0-4.0 inches; Frequency: Weekly; Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; Low to Medium maintenance level; overseeding required to repair bare spots.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance, deep roots for drought resistance, resistant to many common turf diseases, high shade tolerance, salt-sensitive.
Ecological Information
Introduced status in North America; used for soil stabilization on slopes; provides minimal wildlife value compared to native bunchgrasses; can be aggressive in native meadows.