Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 physiological pathway
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); likely a modern cultivar given the medium blade width and dark green color.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7 (adaptable to Zone 8 in transition areas); high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold hardiness; semi-dormant in extreme winter or summer heat.
About This Grass
A dense, bunching grass with a deep green color and upright growth. It forms a coarse to medium-textured turf that stays green during most of the year in temperate climates. Seed heads are panicles, though rarely seen in maintained lawns.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-5mm; flat shape with prominent longitudinal ribs on the upper surface; pointed tips; dark green color; rolled vernation in the bud; absent auricles; short membranous ligule.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch tendency; slow recovery from thinning due to bunch habit; provides excellent drought resistance via soil depth access.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone and temperate regions of North America.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); spreads primarily through tillering with very limited short rhizome activity in modern cultivars.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (moderate shade tolerance); requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but high drought avoidance; 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 dethatching needs; annual overseeding often required to maintain density; Medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance once established; resistant to many turf diseases except Brown Patch in high humidity; excellent salt and drought tolerance; best choice for low-input shade areas.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes; provides minimal wildlife forage compared to native prairie grasses; often mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass for better recovery.