Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass (Tolerates transition zone conditions)
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage, Utility Turf, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31) or similar pasture-type forage fescue
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold hardiness; semi-dormant in extreme summer heat or winter cold.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, clump-forming grass that grows in distinct bunches. It has a robust, upright form. Color is typically a medium to dark dull green. Seed heads are large, open panicles that appear in late spring/early summer if left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (5-10mm); flat shape with a pointed tip; prominently ridged (veined) on the upper surface; rolled vernation in the bud; dull underside with a distinct center vein; ligule is short and membranous/fringed; auricles are small, blunt, and short-hairy.
Root System
Deep, extensive fibrous root system (can reach 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; slow recovery from wear due to bunch-forming habit; excellent drought avoidance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; naturalized throughout the United States, especially the Transition Zone and Pacific Northwest
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons; infrequent very short rhizomes in some varieties
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade; prefers 6+ hours of sun but is the most shade-tolerant cool-season grass; moderate to high water needs for green appearance, but survives drought through dormancy.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0 to 4.0 inches; low to medium maintenance; fertilize 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft annually; requires periodic overseeding to fill in thinned clumps.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance for foot traffic; prone to brown patch disease in humid heat; excellent for erosion control on slopes; poor lateral spreading ability.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; provides cover for small mammals and forage for livestock; often hosts an endophytic fungus (Neotyphodium) which improves stress tolerance but can be toxic to some grazing livestock if not 'endophyte-free' varieties.