Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) blend
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; Excellent heat tolerance for cool-season grass; stays green later into winter than warm-season grasses; minimal winter dormancy except in extreme cold.
About This Grass
A dense, bunching grass with a deep green color. It maintains a relatively upright posture and does not form a tight mat like stoloniferous grasses. When unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet; maintained turf is typically 3-4 inches. It features a coarse to medium-coarse texture with visible longitudinal ribbing.
Blade Characteristics
Width: 3-5mm (medium-coarse); Shape: Flat; Tip: Pointed (acute); Color: Dark green with a dull underside; Vernation: Rolled in the bud; Ligule: Short, membranous (0.5mm); Auricles: Absent or very small/rudimentary with hairs; Collar: Broad and prominent.
Root System
Deeply fibrous (reaching 2-3 feet deep), allowing for superior drought resistance. Low thatch tendency due to bunching habit. Establishment speed is moderate (faster than bluegrass, slower than ryegrass).
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone of the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with occasional short rhizomes; slow rate of lateral spread
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (one of the most shade-tolerant cool-season grasses); 4-6 hours minimum sun; moderate water needs; high drought tolerance for a cool-season grass; prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Height: 3.0-4.0 inches; Frequency: Weekly during growing season; Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft/year (primarily in Fall); Maintenance Level: Medium; occasional overseeding required to fill bare spots.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance once established; resistant to most lawn diseases except Brown Patch in high humidity; good salt tolerance; survives well in the heat of the Transition Zone where other cool-season grasses fail.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides soil stabilization via deep roots; low wildlife food value but provides cover; can be invasive in native meadows; often mixed with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to improve self-repairing capabilities.