Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - generic variety visible
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7 (best in Transition Zone); high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green through mild winters; dormant in extreme heat/drought.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured, deep-rooted grass forming dense clumps. It maintains a dark green color under moderate stress and features vertical, upright growth. Seed heads are open panicles, though rarely seen in maintained lawns.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 4-10mm (medium to coarse); flat shape with pointed tips; prominent longitudinal veins on top; vernation is rolled; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are absent or very کوچک (vestigial).
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; slow recovery from wear due to bunching habit; excellent establishment speed from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, particularly in the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with occasional short rhizomes; lacks aggressive spreading capability
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (best shade tolerance for cool-season grasses); high water needs for lushness but high drought avoidance due to deep roots; prefers pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly mowing; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen/1000 sq ft/year; requires annual overseeding to fill in bare spots; Medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance once established; high resistance to heat and drought; susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in high humidity; excellent salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for slopes; creates dense cover for small mammals when unmowed; often mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass for better self-repair.