Tall Fescue
Schedonorus arundinaceus · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass, highly well-adapted to the transition zone
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-type tall fescue cultivars (e.g., 'Rebel', 'Falcon')
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 7, excellent transition zone performance, good heat and cold tolerance
About This Grass
Forms a moderately dense, upright turf with medium-coarse texture and a rich dark green color. Reaches up to 2-4 feet if unmowed, but maintained as a lawn at 2-3 inches.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-coarse (4-8mm wide), flat with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface, pointed tips, rolled in the bud (vernation), with a short membranous ligule and no auricles
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system reaching depths of 2-3 feet or more, providing exceptional drought tolerance and moderate thatch tendency
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and parts of North Africa and Asia; widely cultivated throughout temperate regions globally and especially popular in the transition zone of the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type grass forming moderate to dense clumps, though modern turf-type varieties can exhibit short, underground rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Performs best in full sun to partial shade, moderate watering needs once established, excellent deep-root drought tolerance, prefers well-drained loamy soils with pH between 5.5 and 6.5
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 3.5 inches, regular mowing schedule, fertilization requirement of 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year, medium maintenance level
Special Characteristics
High wear and traffic tolerance, good disease resistance against common patch diseases, moderate shade tolerance, exceptional drought recovery due to deep roots
Ecological Information
Introduced species, provides good erosion control and slope stabilization due to deep root system, generally non-invasive in managed turf environments, often blended with Kentucky bluegrass