Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 carbon fixation pathway
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); specific cultivar unidentified but displays modern darker green, finer leaf traits compared to 'Kentucky 31'
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 hardy, coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. It grows in dense clumps and maintains color well into the fall. Seed heads are panicles, though rarely seen in maintained lawns.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-6mm (medium-coarse); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip; upper surface is dull with prominent longitudinal ribs; lower surface is smooth and glossy. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are absent or small/rudimentary.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, often reaching 2-3 feet deep, providing superior drought tolerance for a cool-season grass. Low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone of the United States and temperate global climates
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, though some modern cultivars exhibit very short ('determinate') rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours minimum); moderate water needs but possesses high drought avoidance due to root depth. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; frequency weekly during peak growth. Fertilization 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year. Requires periodic overseeding to repair bare spots due to bunch growth habit. Medium maintenance.
Special Characteristics
Outstanding wear tolerance once established; high resistance to heat and drought; moderate shade tolerance (better than Bluegrass); susceptible to Brown Patch fungus in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes; provides limited nesting cover for small birds when unmowed; often used in mixes with Kentucky Bluegrass.