Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season perennial; C3 photosynthetic pathway; highly adapted to the transition zone
Grass Family
Poaceae; subfamily Pooideae; tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass; also used for Erosion Control and Pasture
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); likely a modern cultivar given the dark green color and medium-coarse blade width
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; highly heat tolerant for a cool-season grass; remains semi-evergreen in moderate winters; lacks the extreme cold hardiness of Kentucky Bluegrass.
About This Grass
A robust, deep-rooted bunchgrass forming distinct clumps. It has a dark green color, coarse to medium texture, and maintains color well into the fall. Seed heads are branched panicles approximately 3-6 inches long when unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Width is medium to coarse (4-10mm); blades are flat with prominent longitudinal veins on the upper surface; tips are sharply pointed (not boat-shaped); vernation is rolled in the bud; auricles are absent or small and blunt; ligule is short and membranous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (can reach 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed from seed; excellent wear recovery due to crown density but cannot self-repair large bare spots.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized throughout North America, specifically in the transition zone and temperate regions
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons; spreads primarily through tillering; forms dense vertical tufts
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers Full Sun but has moderate Shade Tolerance (requires 4-6 hours of sun); moderate to high water needs for peak greenness, but possesses high drought tolerance due to deep roots; thrives in pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.0-4.0 inches; frequency is weekly during peak spring/fall growth; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; low to medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance; high resistance to heat and drought; moderate resistance to Brown Patch and Leaf Spot; excellent for high-use home lawns and parks; salt tolerant.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides soil stabilization for slopes; some cultivars contain beneficial endophytes (symbiotic fungi) that deter surface-feeding insects; can be invasive in native prairie restorations.