Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold tolerance but may suffer winter injury in extreme northern climates.
About This Grass
Deep-rooted, tufted cool-season grass with a medium-to-coarse texture. Displays a dark green color and forms a dense canopy when seeded heavily. It maintains green color longer into winter than warm-season grasses and resists browning in heat better than other cool-season grasses.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium-coarse (3-6mm); prominently veined on the upper surface with a dull underside; tips are pointed; vernation is rolled in the bud; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (usually blunt/rounded).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet deep); low thatch producer; establishment speed is moderate (faster than bluegrass, slower than ryegrass); excellent for soil stabilization.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone in North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); very limited short rhizomes occasionally observed in some newer cultivars
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than Kentucky Bluegrass); requires consistent water for establishment; high drought tolerance once mature due to deep roots; grows best in pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height: 3.0-4.0 inches; mowing frequency: weekly during peak spring/fall growth; 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft per year; medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding as it does not spread via stolons.
Special Characteristics
Superior wear tolerance; excellent drought resistance; moderate shade tolerance; susceptible to Brown Patch fungus in high humidity; good salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides cover for small mammals; excellent for stabilizing slopes and preventing erosion; often used in a 90/10 mix with Kentucky Bluegrass for improved sod strength.