Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture/Forage, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31) or similar coarse utility-grade variety
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for its class and good cold hardiness. Does not go dormant as easily as Kentucky Bluegrass.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass forming dense clumps. It maintains a medium-to-dark green color longer into the summer than most cool-season grasses. Unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet with open panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide) with prominent vertical ribs on the upper surface. Blade tips are sharply pointed. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Margins are rough/scabrous to the touch. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small and blunt with occasional hairs (ciliate).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, often reaching 2-3 feet deep. Very low thatch tendency due to bunching habit. Fast establishment from seed but slow to recover from wear due to lack of spreading structures.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, particularly the U.S. Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, leading to a patchy appearance if and when thinned.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours minimum). High drought tolerance for a cool-season grass due to deep roots. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended mowing height: 3.0 to 4.0 inches. Frequency is moderate. Nitrogen needs: 2-4 lbs per 1000 sq ft annually. Maintenance level: Low to Medium. Requires periodic overseeding to fill in bare spots.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance once established and high heat/drought resistance. Low susceptibility to most diseases compared to fine fescues, though Brown Patch can occur in humid summers.
Ecological Information
Introduced species. Provides good soil stabilization for slopes. Often contains endophytic fungi that provide resistance to some leaf-feeding insects, though these can be toxic to livestock if used in pastures.