Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - likely a modern cultivar such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series based on dark green color and medium-coarse texture.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; exceptional heat tolerance for the transition zone; remains green through mild winters but may go dormant in extreme cold.
About This Grass
Dense, upright growth pattern with a deep green color. Maintained at turf height, it provides a rugged, uniform surface. Distinctly ribbed leaves with coarse edges.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium-coarse (4-7mm); prominent parallel veins/ribs on the upper surface; pointed tips; rolled vernation in the bud; auricles are typically absent or very small and blunt; ligule is short and membranous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, often reaching 2-3 feet deep, allowing for superior drought tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses. Low thatch tendency; slow recovery from wear due to bunch growth habit.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, particularly in the Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, though some new cultivars have 'short-rhizome' capabilities.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (excellent shade tolerance for a cool-season grass); requires regular deep watering during summer heat; thrives in soil pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height 3.0-4.0 inches; high frequency during spring/fall; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding to maintain density.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; excellent drought resistance; moderate shade tolerance; susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia solani) during hot, humid nights; good salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; provides soil stabilization for slopes; common in pastures and lawns; often contains fungal endophytes that improve pest resistance but can be toxic to livestock if not endophyte-free.