Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) blend
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green through mild winters but may go dormant in extreme heat/cold.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. Forms dense clumps that can look patchy if the stand thins out. Shows significant brown-out/dormancy in the provided image likely due to heat stress or drought.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-6mm (coarse), prominent longitudinal veins on upper surface, pointed tips, rolled vernation in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent but usually have short hairs (cilia) on the margins.
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet), low thatch tendency, slow to moderate establishment from seed, excellent drought avoidance compared to other cool-season grasses.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to North American Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); very limited short rhizomes possible in some modern cultivars
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (prefers 4-6 hours minimum); moderate water needs but possesses high drought tolerance due to deep roots; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
High mowing height recommended (3.0-4.0 inches); frequency weekly during growing season; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance in transition zones due to overseeding needs.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance once established; good shade tolerance; highly susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia solani) in humid summers; poor self-repairing ability (no stolons).
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides soil stabilization on slopes; often contains beneficial endophytes that repel insects; frequently mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass (90/10 ratio) for improved sod knitting.