Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; stays green for most of the winter in transition zones.
About This Grass
A dense, medium-textured turfgrass with a deep green color. It maintains a consistent green canopy in the transition zone where other grasses struggle. When unmowed, it can reach 2-4 feet with a panicle-type seed head.
Blade Characteristics
Medium width (3-5mm); flat shape with prominent longitudinal veins on the upper surface; pointed tip; dark green color; rolled vernation; short membranous ligule; auricles are usually absent or small and blunt.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet deep); low thatch-forming tendency; medium establishment speed; excellent drought avoidance due to root depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone and Mediterranean climates of North America.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); though some newer cultivars have short rhizomes, it primarily spreads via tillering.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours minimum); moderate water needs but high drought tolerance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.0-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; low dethatching needs; annual fall overseeding recommended to maintain density; Medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Superior wear tolerance; good shade tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses; resistant to many common turf diseases but susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; provides soil stabilization for slopes; creates dense cover for small fauna; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass for improved recovery; non-invasive in most managed lawn settings.