Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass; highly adaptive transition zone grass
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 dark green cultivar such as 'Rhambler 2' or 'Falcon IV'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for its type; stays green into winter but may go dormant in extreme cold or heat.
About This Grass
A dense, bunching grass with a deep green color and medium-coarse texture. It forms a durable, upright turf and is more heat and drought tolerant than most cool-season grasses.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-6mm (medium-coarse); rolled vernation in the bud; pointed tips; prominent parallel veins (ribbed) on upper surface; serrated margins; short membranous ligule; auricles absent or very small/blunt.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; slow recovery from damage due to bunching habit; excellent drought avoidance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America across the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); some newer cultivars possess short rhizomes for limited spreading capability
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Shade (highly shade tolerant for a cool-season grass); requires 1-1.5 inches of water per week; prefers pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; mow weekly; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance in transition zones due to overseeding requirements.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; excellent shade tolerance; high drought resistance; susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity; good salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; provides soil stabilization for slopes; often mixed with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to help fill in gaps; can be invasive in native meadows.