Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 carbon fixation
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); may include modern cultivars like 'Titanium LS' or 'Rebel' series
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold hardiness but may go dormant in extreme heat/cold.
About This Grass
Dense, upright growth with a dark green color. It forms a thick carpet but lacks vigorous spreading capability, requiring occasional overseeding to maintain density.
Blade Characteristics
Medium to coarse width (3-5mm); prominent veins on the upper surface; pointed tips; rolled vernation in the bud; auricles are absent or very short/blunt; ligule is short and membranous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often extending 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought tolerance for a cool-season grass.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to North America, particularly the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with occasionally short rhizomes in modern turf-type varieties
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade; requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but possesses deep-root drought avoidance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly mowing; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low to medium maintenance.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; excellent shade tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses; salt tolerant; resistant to many turf diseases but susceptible to Brown Patch.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides soil stabilization; often contains endophytes (beneficial fungi) that deter insect pests and improve stress tolerance.