Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - General Mix
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold tolerance; lacks a true winter dormancy unless under extreme cold.
About This Grass
A robust, deep-rooted grass with a coarse to medium-fine texture depending on the variety. It maintains a deep green color throughout the growing season and stays green longer into winter than warm-season grasses. Forms tight bunches that can become patchy if not regularly overseeded.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (3mm-8mm); tips are pointed (not boat-shaped); color is medium to dark green; vernation is rolled in the bud; leaf surface has prominent longitudinal veins/ridges; auricles are absent or very small/blunt; ligule is short and membranous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; slow establishment compared to ryegrass; excellent drought tolerance due to root depth; forms a tough but non-knitted sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone in North America.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with limited short rhizomes in specific cultivars; slow to spread but forms dense clumps.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Preferred Full Sun but has moderate shade tolerance (4-6 hours minimum); deep, infrequent watering is best; high drought tolerance for a cool-season grass; prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5-7.5).
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0 to 4.0 inches; mowing frequency 7-10 days; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year; low dethatching needs; high maintenance level for consistent appearance in transition zones.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; moderate disease resistance (susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity); moderate salt tolerance; good ability to crowd out weeds when dense; does not recover quickly from traffic damage due to bunching habit.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides soil stabilization via deep roots; lower wildlife value in turf form but provides cover in pasture/naturalized forms; can be invasive in native meadow ecosystems.