Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; also performs well in the Upper South transition zone. Excellent cold and heat tolerance.
About This Grass
A hardy, coarse-textured grass with a deep green color. Grows upright in clumps, forming a thick lawn when seeded at high densities. Unmowed, it can reach 2-4 feet with panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (4-10mm). Ridged on the top surface with a prominent midrib on the underside. Tips are pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. Auricles are small or absent; ligule is short and membranous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, reaching 2-3 feet in depth. Low thatch tendency. Slow lateral spread due to bunch-habit. Provides excellent drought tolerance for a cool-season grass.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone of the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type; occasionally producing short rhizomes, forming a dense but non-spreading clump
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours minimum). High drought tolerance once established; prefers 1 inch of water per week in summer to maintain green color.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended height 3 to 4 inches. Frequency: weekly during peak spring/fall growth. Low to medium maintenance level. 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance, better shade tolerance than most cool-season grasses, susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity, excellent for erosion control.
Ecological Information
Introduced to North America. Provides soil stabilization but can be invasive in native meadow ecosystems. Often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass for improved recovery.