Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Erosion Control grass
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31) or a generic forage-type tall fescue
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; widely utilized in the Transition Zone due to heat and cold tolerance.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass that grows in distinct clumps. It maintains a medium-to-dark green color year-round in many climates. Unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet; maintained as turf, it is dense but can appear 'clumpy' if the stand is thin. Seed heads are open panicles.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (5-10mm); flat shape with a pointed tip. Distinctly ribbed or veined on the upper surface with smooth undersides. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short, membranous, and fringed; auricles are small/vestigial with short hairs.
Root System
Exceptionally deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep), giving it superior drought tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses. It does not form a true sod via spreading, but create a dense mat via tillering.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized throughout North America, specifically in the Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks rhizomes and stolons (some modern turf types have very short rhizomes).
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than many cool-season grasses). Requires moderate watering but survives extended dry periods by going dormant. Prefers 5.5-7.5 pH soil.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year. Requires periodic overseeding because it does not spread to fill in bare spots. Medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance; high heat and drought resistance for a cool-season grass; susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) during hot, humid summers.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides forage for livestock; excellent for soil stabilization on slopes; can be invasive in native prairie restoration sites; often contains endophytes (symbiotic fungi) that deter insect pests.