Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a modern cultivar such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series based on blade density
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; widely grown in the Transition Zone due to superior heat tolerance compared to Bluegrass or Ryegrass.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. Forms dense clumps that can appear patchy if a stand is thin. It maintains green color longer into the winter than warm-season grasses and is known for its upright growth habit.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, 5-10mm wide; prominent veins on the upper surface and a dull underside. Tips are sharply pointed. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent but often described as 'ciliate' (fringed with small hairs).
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep), which provides excellent drought tolerance and stability. Low thatch-building tendency due to bunching habit. Relatively fast establishment from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized throughout North America, particularly in the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, spreading primarily through tillering
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most cool-season grasses). Needs approx 1 inch of water per week; high drought tolerance once established due to deep roots. Prefers pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 2.0-4.0 inches (higher in summer helps shade the crown); frequency depends on growth rate; fertilization 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year; requires periodic overseeding to fill in bare spots.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance; good disease resistance (though susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity); moderate salt tolerance; highest shade tolerance among common cool-season sun grasses.
Ecological Information
Introduced to North America; used heavily for soil stabilization on slopes; provides some cover for small wildlife but can be invasive in native meadows; often mixed with Bluegrass for improved traffic recovery.