Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture/Forage, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31) or similar coarse-type forage/pasture variety
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; has high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green through winter in southern transition zones but may go semi-dormant in extreme cold.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, clump-forming grass with a deep green color. In the photo, it appears as a prominent light-green clump protruding from a dormant or thinner lawn. It reaches 3-4 feet if unmowed, producing panicle-type seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (>4mm); flat shape with prominent longitudinal veins/ridges on the upper surface; pointed tip; rolled vernation in the bud; short membranous ligule; auricles are small and short-hairy or absent; collar is broad and distinct.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; known for excellent drought avoidance due to root depth; slow to fill in bare spots because of its bunch-habit.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; naturalized extensively across North America, especially in the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons; spreads primarily through tillering
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most cool-season grasses); moderate water needs but possesses high drought tolerance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended mowing height of 3.0-4.0 inches; frequency typically once per week; fertilize with 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance once established; highly resistant to summer heat and drought; susceptible to Brown Patch disease in high humidity; often treated as a weed when appearing in fine-textured lawns like Kentucky Bluegrass.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides forage for livestock though some older varieties contain endophytes that can be toxic; provides cover for small mammals; excellent for stabilizing slopes and preventing erosion.