Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), exact cultivar unknown
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; widely used in the Transition Zone due to heat and cold tolerance.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. It grows in distinct clumps rather than a continuous mat. Unmowed, it reaches 2-4 feet with open panicle seed heads; maintained as turf, it is dense and upright.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (4-10mm), flat shape with a pointed tip. Notable for prominent parallel veins on the upper surface and a dull underside. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet depth), which provides excellent drought tolerance and stability. Low thatch-former. Slow to recover from heavy wear due to bunching habit.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; naturalized throughout North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); occasionally produces short rhizomes but lacks aggressive spreading capacity
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade; prefers 4-6 hours of sun. High drought tolerance once established. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0 to 4.0 inches. Requires frequent mowing during spring/fall. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually. Low to medium maintenance.
Special Characteristics
Excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass, moderate shade tolerance, high traffic tolerance (though slow to self-repair), and strong disease resistance to many common turf pathogens.
Ecological Information
Introduced in North America; used for soil stabilization on slopes. Provides forage for livestock but can contain endophytes toxic to some animals. Can be aggressive in native meadows.