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, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a modern elite cultivar based on the dark green color and moderate blade width.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; exceptional heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green until hard frost, then may enter semi-dormancy.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass forming dense individual clumps. It maintains a deep green color year-round in many climates and produces a tall, branched panicle if left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Width: 3-8mm (medium-coarse); Shape: flat; Tip: pointed/tapered; Color: dark green with prominent longitudinal veins/ridges on the upper surface; Vernation: rolled in the bud; Ligule: short, membranous; Auricles: absent or very small/blunt.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending up to 2-3 feet in ideal soils; excellent for drought avoidance. Does not form meaningful thatch; slow to recover from bare spots due to bunch habit.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely adapted throughout the United States, particularly the Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, though some new 'RTF' varieties have limited rhizomatous activity.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (excellent shade tolerance for a cool-season grass); requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but possesses high drought tolerance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height: 3.0 to 4.0 inches; Frequency: weekly during peak growth; Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; Level: Medium maintenance.
Special Characteristics
High traffic/wear tolerance due to tough vascular tissue; resistant to many common lawn diseases; better salt tolerance than Bluegrass; does not spread into flower beds.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for slopes; frequently used in mixes with Kentucky Bluegrass; can be invasive in native prairie restorations but vital for urban soil health.