Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture/Forage, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a blend of older K-31 and newer dark-green cultivars
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; Excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green through mild winters; dormant during extreme summer drought.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass that grows in distinct clumps. It is dark green in active growth but can show tip-dieback and yellowing in poor soil or extreme heat. The image shows a patchy lawn where dark green fescue clumps contrast against lighter, dormant, or stressed surrounding turf.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width: Coarse (4-10mm); Shape: Flat; Tip: Pointed; Color: Medium to dark emerald green; Vernation: Rolled in the bud; Texture: Prominent longitudinal ribs on the upper surface; Ligule: Short, membranous; Auricles: Small, blunt patches (often hairy).
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch producer; moderately slow to establish but creates a very stable sod resistant to foot traffic.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, particularly the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); limited rhizomatous activity in some modern cultivars. Forms dense individual tufts.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Shade (highly shade tolerant for a cool-season grass); Moderate water needs; High drought tolerance due to deep roots; Prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height: 2.0 to 4.0 inches (higher in summer); Moderate fertilization (2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year); Low dethatching need; Requires periodic overseeding to fill in bare spots due to bunch-growth.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; good shade tolerance; highly resistant to summer heat compared to Kentucky Bluegrass; susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in humid conditions.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes; often contains endophytes that deter surface-feeding insects; commonly mixed with Bluegrass for improved traffic recovery.