Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn, Turf, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; has high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass and good cold hardiness; remains green in mild winters but may go dormant in extreme cold.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color and upright growth. It forms dense clumps and is known for its durability and bunching appearance compared to sod-forming grasses. Seed heads are branched panicles reaching 3-4 feet if left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Width: 4-10mm (medium to coarse); shape: flat with prominent longitudinal veins on the upper surface; tip: pointed; color: dark green; vernation: rolled; ligule: short, membranous; auricles: small or absent, typically hairless; collar: broad and continuous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet depth), which provides excellent drought tolerance and stability. It has a low thatch-forming tendency and establishes relatively quickly 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), occasionally produces short rhizomes but lacks aggressive spreading
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (moderate shade tolerance); requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but possesses high drought avoidance due to deep roots; grows best in well-drained soils with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height: 2.5-4.0 inches; frequency: weekly during active growth; fertilization: 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year; maintenance: medium; requires periodic overseeding to fill in bare spots.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance, excellent drought Avoidance, good resistance to brown patch and leaf spot, moderate shade tolerance, used heavily in home lawns and parks.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; serves as forage for livestock (though some cultivars contain endophytes); can be invasive in native prairie ecosystems; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass for improved durability.