Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a modern cultivar such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series based on density
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; highly successful in the Transition Zone; excellent heat tolerance and moderate cold hardiness; semidormant in extreme winter.
About This Grass
A hardy, coarse-to-medium textured grass with a deep green color. It grows in upright bunches and maintains a green appearance longer into the summer heat than most cool-season grasses. Seed heads are large, open panicles (rarely seen in maintained lawns).
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, 4-10mm wide; prominent veins on the upper surface; pointed tips; dark green color; rolled vernation in the bud; leaf margins are often rough/serrated to the touch; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (reaching 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; relatively slow to establish from seed compared to ryegrass but faster than bluegrass; excellent wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, particularly the US Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with occasional short rhizomes; forms a dense canopy but does not spread aggressively
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs; excellent drought tolerance for a cool-season grass due to deep roots; prefers pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
2.0 to 4.0 inches (higher in summer); frequency depends on growth; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low-to-medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding as it does not spread via runners.
Special Characteristics
High traffic and wear tolerance; good shade tolerance; high resistance to heat and drought; moderately susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; provides cover for small mammals; excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes; often mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass for improved durability.