Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 carbon fixation
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn, Turf, and Pasture Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4 through 9. High heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold hardiness, though may suffer in extreme North/Arctic conditions.
About This Grass
A hardy, coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. It grows in dense clumps and is known for its upright growth habit and ability to stay green during the summer months when other cool-season grasses go dormant.
Blade Characteristics
Width: 3-5mm (medium-coarse). Shape: Flat with prominent longitudinal veins on the upper surface. Tip: Pointed and sharp to the touch. Color: Mid-to-dark green. Vernation: Rolled in the bud. Ligule: Short, membranous, and truncate. Auricles: Small, blunt, or absent (fringed with hairs in some variants).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, reaching 2-3 feet in supportive soil. Low thatch tendency; slow establishment compared to ryegrass but faster than bluegrass. Deep roots provide excellent drought tolerance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across the United States, especially in the Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clumping). It spreads primarily through tillering and lacks significant rhizomatous or stoloniferous activity.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun but has moderate shade tolerance. Requires moderate watering; once established, it is one of the most drought-tolerant cool-season grasses. Adaptable to various soil types, preferring pH 5.5 to 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height: 3 to 4 inches. Frequency: Weekly during peak growth. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually (Fall and Spring). Dethatching rarely needed; aeration encouraged for root depth. Maintenance level: Medium.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance due to leaf toughness; resistant to many common turf diseases like dollar spot, though susceptible to brown patch in high humidity. Excellent salt and shade tolerance compared to other fescues.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes. Moderate wildlife value for foraging herbivores. Often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass (typically 90% Fescue, 10% Bluegrass) to fill in bare spots.