Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); variety unknown but likely a modern blend like 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; has high heat tolerance for cool-season varieties and good cold hardiness.
About This Grass
A durable, coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color and vertical growth. It remains green for most of the year in temperate climates.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 4-8mm (coarse/medium); pointed tips; prominent longitudinal veins/ridges on the upper surface; rolled vernation; membranous ligule; auricles absent or very small (short-pubescent).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought tolerance for a cool-season grass.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America and adapted to the Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, though some modern cultivars are slightly rhizomatous.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (requires 4-6 hours sun); moderate water needs but possesses high drought resistance; prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; mow weekly; requires 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low to medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding.
Special Characteristics
High traffic/wear tolerance; good shade tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses; susceptible to Brown Patch disease during hot/humid periods.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for slopes; frequently mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass for better sod-forming characteristics.