Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), exact cultivar uncertain but likely a common lawn blend
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold tolerance; stays green through much of the winter in mild climates.
About This Grass
A rugged, medium-to-coarse textured grass that maintains a dark green color. It grows in upright clumps and is known for its ability to stay green during heat stress compared to other cool-season grasses.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium-coarse (3-6mm); leaf tips are distinctly pointed (not boat-shaped); color is medium to dark green; vernation is rolled in the bud; leaf surface has prominent parallel veins (ridges) on the upper side; auricles are usually absent or very small; ligule is short and membranous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet deep); low thatch tendency; slow recovery from heavy wear due to bunching habit; fast initial establishment from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; naturalized throughout the United States, especially in the transition zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with limited short rhizomes; forms a dense sod when seeded at high rates
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers Full Sun but has moderate shade tolerance; requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but possesses high drought resistance due to deep roots; grows best in pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; frequency should be weekly during peak growth; fertilization of 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low-to-medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
High traffic tolerance for foot traffic; excellent drought resistance; susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia solani) in high humidity; good salt tolerance; poor self-repairing ability if patches die.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; widely used for soil erosion control on slopes; provides minimal wildlife food value but provides cover; sometimes hosts endophytes that enhance pest resistance but can be toxic to livestock if used as forage.