Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, C3, Perennial
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-type Tall Fescue (TTTF), Common varieties include 'Rebel IV' or 'Falcon IV'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; highly tolerant of heat for a cool-season grass but enters dormancy in extreme summer heat or winter cold.
About This Grass
A robust, deep-rooted grass forming dense clumps. It maintains a dark green color longer than many cool-season grasses during summer heat. Texture is somewhat coarse compared to bluegrass but modern turf-types are finer-textured.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (4-10mm), flat shape, pointed tip with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent but may be hairy.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet depth). Low thatch tendency due to bunch habit; provides excellent drought resistance and moderate wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; naturalized extensively in North America, particularly the U.S. Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); primary spread through tillering. Limited rhizome activity in some newer cultivars.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires at least 4-6 hours of sun. High drought tolerance once established. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0 to 4.0 inches. Moderate maintenance. Requires 2-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year. Regular overseeding is needed to maintain density since it does not spread via stolons.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance and shade tolerance. Susceptible to Brown Patch disease (Rhizoctonia solani) during hot, humid nights (as potentially seen in the dead circular patch in the image).
Ecological Information
Introduced status in North America; provides soil stabilization on slopes/banks. Some varieties contain endophytes (fungus) that provide natural resistance to leaf-feeding insects.