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 grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - generic variety visible
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; well-suited for the Transition Zone; enters semi-dormancy in extreme cold.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass forming dense clumps. It maintains a deep green color even in mild summer heat. Unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet with open panicle seed heads, but in turf it presents as a rugged, upright green carpet.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (4-10mm); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip; dark green color; rolled vernation in the bud; prominent veins on the upper surface with a rough margin; short membranous ligule; auricles are small or absent but may be blunt/ciliate.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; does not form a true sod due to bunching habit but provides excellent drought resistance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours minimum); moderate watering needs but high drought tolerance due to deep roots; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; low to medium maintenance requirement; requires overseeding to fill in bare spots.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; moderate shade tolerance; excellent resistance to brown patch and leaf spot in newer cultivars; highly effective for erosion control on slopes.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides cover for small mammals; excellent for soil stabilization; can be somewhat invasive in native meadows where it out-competes local species; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass.