Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), specific cultivar cannot be determined but matches standard landscape varieties
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; adapts well to the Transition Zone. Excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green through mild winters.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass forming dense individual clumps. Dark green color when healthy, but showing significant thinning and browning in the image. High density within clumps but lacks spreading ability to fill bare patches naturally.
Blade Characteristics
Medium to coarse width (4mm+), blades are flat with prominent longitudinal veins on top. The tip is distinctly pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, capable of reaching 2-3 feet deep, providing better drought tolerance than most cool-season grasses. Very low thatch tendency. Slow to fill bare spots due to bunch habit.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, specifically cool and transition zones
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); very limited rhizomatous activity in some newer cultivars but primarily stays in clumps
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade; requires moderate watering during establishment but highly drought tolerant once mature. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height of 2.5 to 4.0 inches. Higher mowing promotes deeper roots. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year. Low to Medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding to maintain density.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance, excellent disease resistance to many pathogens (though susceptible to Brown Patch), and moderate shade tolerance. Superior bunching stability for erosion control.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides soil stabilization but can be invasive in native meadows. Often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass for better self-repair capability.