Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); specific cultivar unknown, but exhibits more refined texture and darker color than 'Kentucky 31'.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; highly successful in the Transition Zone due to heat tolerance. Goes semi-dormant in extreme cold or prolonged drought.
About This Grass
A dense, tufted grass with a deep green color. It maintains its color well into the fall. It has a coarse to medium texture compared to bluegrass or ryegrass and lacks the creeping stems of stoloniferous grasses.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium-coarse (3-4mm); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip. Vernation is rolled in the bud. The upper surface has prominent equidistant ridges; auricles are absent or very small/blunt; ligule is a short, blunt membrane.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, often reaching 2-3 feet deep, allowing for superior drought tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses. It does not form significant thatch and has a moderate establishment speed from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, particularly in the Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clumping). It spreads primarily through tillering; some newer cultivars have limited rhizomatous activity.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than Kentucky Bluegrass). Requires moderate watering; shows excellent drought resistance once established. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height: 2.5 to 4.0 inches. Mowing frequency: Weekly during growing season. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft per year. Maintenance level: Medium; requires periodic overseeding because it does not spread via rhizomes.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance once established. Good resistance to leaf spot and brown patch (cultivar dependent). Excellent for high-traffic home lawns and parks. High salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Used for soil stabilization on slopes due to deep roots. Often mixed with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to help fill in bare spots.