Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a blend of improved cultivars
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass and good cold hardiness. Stays green during mild winters.
About This Grass
A dense, upright-growing grass with a coarse to medium texture. It maintains a deep green color year-round in moderate climates. When unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet, producing panicle-type seed heads. In lawn settings, it forms a thick, uniform canopy.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (3-6mm); blades are flat with prominent longitudinal veins on the upper surface and a dull underside. Tips are sharply pointed. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent, typically with short hairs on the margins.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (reaching 2-3 feet depth), which provides superior drought tolerance. Low thatch-forming tendency; establishment is relatively fast via seed but slow to recover from bare spots due to bunch habit.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone of the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with limited short rhizomes; lacks extensive spreading capability
Sunlight & Water Needs
Adapts to Full Sun to Partial Shade (min 4-6 hours sun). Requires moderate watering; once established, has the best drought tolerance among cool-season grasses. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; frequency weekly during peak growth. Fertilization 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year. Requires annual core aeration and overseeding to maintain density. Maintenance level: Medium.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance once established; resistant to many turf diseases but susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity. Very good shade tolerance compared to Kentucky Bluegrass. Excellent for home lawns in the transition zone.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Used for soil stabilization and forage. Often contains beneficial endophytes (fungi) that provide natural resistance to leaf-feeding insects. Frequently mixed with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to improve sod strength.