Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a modern cultivar such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series based on refined blade width
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green in winter unless temperatures are extreme; no true winter dormancy.
About This Grass
Deep-rooted, tufted perennial grass with a dark green color and dense canopy. It maintains color well in heat compared to other cool-season grasses. Seed heads are panicles, though rarely seen in maintained turf.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (3-6mm); prominent longitudinal veins on the upper surface; margins are rough/serrated; vernation is rolled in the bud; leaf tip is pointed (tapering); auricles are small or absent; ligule is short and membranous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); slow to form thatch; fast establishment from seed; excellent wear recovery due to crown density but poor self-repair of bare spots.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; naturalized throughout North America, especially in the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, though some new cultivars exhibit limited rhizomatous spread
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours minimum; moderate to high water needs but possesses high drought tolerance due to deep roots; prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly mowing; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; requires regular aeration; medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
High traffic/wear tolerance; resistant to summer patch and dollar spot, though susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia); good salt tolerance; high shade tolerance relative to other lawn grasses.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; provides cover for small mammals; excellent for soil stabilization on slopes; often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to facilitate sod knitting.