Tall Fescue (growing with Red Clover)
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 carbon fixation pathway
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage Grass and Low-Maintenance Turf
Variety / Cultivar
Common Forage-Type Tall Fescue (e.g., 'Kentucky 31')
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; widely utilized in the 'Transition Zone' where both heat and cold extremes occur.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, upright grass forming dense clumps. Visible in the image intermingled with pink flowering Red Clover. It maintains a deep green color in autumn but may go dormant in extreme heat or cold. Seed heads are large, open panicles reaching 3-4 feet if unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, typically 5-10mm wide. Flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip. Color is medium to dark green with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small, blunt, and short-hairy.
Root System
Deep, extensive fibrous root system, often reaching 2-3 feet deep. Low thatch tendency due to bunch growth. Highly stable and excellent for erosion control but slow to fill in bare spots.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America and temperate regions globally.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); can occasionally produce short, weak rhizomes but lacks aggressive spreading.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun but has high shade tolerance for a cool-season grass. Requires 4-6 hours minimum sun. High drought tolerance due to deep roots; grows best in well-drained soils with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 3 to 4 inches. Low to medium maintenance level. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year. Needs periodic overseeding to maintain density in turf settings.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance and high heat tolerance compared to Bluegrass. Good salt tolerance and moderate disease resistance (though susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity). Interplanted here with clover for natural nitrogen fixation.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides high-quality forage for livestock (though some cultivars contain endophytes). Excellent for soil stabilization and water filtration. Frequently found in mixed meadows with Trifolium pratense (Red Clover) as seen in the image.