Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Forage, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); likely a modern blend of cultivars such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' based on blade refinement
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold tolerance; remains green in winter unless temperatures are extreme
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured bunchgrass with a deep green color. Forms a dense turf when seeded heavily but naturally grows in isolated clumps; seed heads are large, open panicles if left unmowed
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-10mm (medium to coarse); flat shape; pointed tip; prominent longitudinal veins/ridges on the upper surface; rolled vernation in the bud; light to dark green; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch-forming tendency; slow establishment compared to ryegrass but faster than bluegrass; excellent drought avoidance
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, particularly in the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); spreads primarily through tillering; lacks significant rhizomes or stolons
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (very shade tolerant for a cool-season grass); 4-6 hours min sun; moderate water needs; highest drought tolerance among cool-season turfgrasses; pH 5.5-7.5
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.0-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; fertilization 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year; annual aeration recommended; requires regular overseeding to maintain density; Medium maintenance
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; excellent salt and shade tolerance; resistant to many common turf diseases like dollar spot, though susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in high humidity
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for slopes/levee banks; limited wildlife forage value in turf form; can be invasive in native prairie restoration sites; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass