Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a blend of older standard and newer dwarf cultivars
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green through mild winters; stays active longer than warm-season grasses.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass forming dense individual clumps. In the image, it exhibits a dark green color with a high vertical growth rate. When mowed, it provides a durable surface, but when neglected or thin, it forms the distinct 'bushel' mounds visible in the photo.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (4-10mm), flat shape, pointed tip, dark green color, rolled vernation in the bud. Leaves feature prominent veins on the upper surface and a dull underside; auricles are typically small and short-haired or absent; ligule is short and membranous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (can reach 2-3 feet depth), low thatch tendency, fast establishment from seed; deep roots provide superior drought tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, particularly the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, resulting in the patchy clumping appearance shown in sparse areas
Sunlight & Water Needs
Preferred Full Sun but highly shade tolerant (4-6 hours direct sun minimum); moderate water needs; excellent drought tolerance due to root depth; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5-4.0 inches; frequency weekly during peak spring/fall growth; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance in sparse areas requiring frequent overseeding to fill gaps.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance once established; resistant to many turf diseases but susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in humid heat; excellent for high-traffic home lawns and slopes; poor self-repairing ability due to bunch growth habit.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; moderate wildlife value; can be invasive in native meadows; often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to improve sod strength.