Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); common varieties include 'Falcon IV', 'Rebel', or 'Mustang'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7 (Best in Transition Zone); high heat tolerance; good cold hardiness; remains semi-evergreen in mild winters.
About This Grass
A dense, bunching grass with a deep green color and vertical growth. It maintains a green color longer into the winter than many other types and does not form a thick mat like stoloniferous grasses. Seed heads are panicles, though rarely seen in maintained lawns.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (3-10mm). Venation is prominent with distinct longitudinal ribs on the upper surface. The tip is sharply pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (never clasping).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (can reach 2-3 feet depth); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought tolerance for a cool-season grass due to depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone and temperate climates of North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); can occasionally produce short, weak rhizomes in newer cultivars
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours minimum); moderate water needs but possesses high drought avoidance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low dethatching needs; high maintenance during summer stress.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance once established; high shade tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses; disease resistance to many common fungi, though susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization on slopes; often contains endophytes (beneficial fungi) that repel insects and improve stress tolerance; common in mixes with Kentucky Bluegrass.