Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a blend of modern heat-tolerant cultivars
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold tolerance; stays green through mild winters but may go semi-dormant in extreme cold.
About This Grass
Dense, bunching grass with a deep green color. Maintained turf typically stands 3-4 inches; unmowed it can reach 2-4 feet. Texture is medium to coarse compared to fine fescues but finer than older 'K-31' varieties. It remains green for most of the year in transition zones.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-6mm (medium-coarse); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip; dark green color; rolled vernation in the bud; prominent veins on the top surface with a smooth, glossy underside. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are usually short or absent, occasionally hairs on the collar.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep), giving it excellent drought resistance. It does not form a heavy thatch layer and has a moderate establishment speed from seed.
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 limited short rhizomes in newer cultivars
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Shade (high shade tolerance for a cool-season grass); requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but possesses high drought avoidance due to deep roots; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly mowing frequency; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low dethatching needs but benefits from annual aeration and overseeding to fill in bunches; Medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; excellent drought and heat resistance; good shade tolerance; susceptible to Brown Patch disease in high humidity; distinct lack of lateral spreading requires overseeding for repair.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization via deep roots; used in low-input landscapes to reduce water runoff; often mixed with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to improve sod-forming capacity.