Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); variety unknown but exhibiting characteristics of modern 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series cultivars
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for the transition zone; good cold tolerance; does not go dormant as quickly in winter as warm-season grasses.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured turf grass that grows in dense clumps. It has a deep green color and remains green longer into the summer than many other cool-season grasses. It produces panicle-type seed heads if left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (3-5mm). Blades are flat with prominent longitudinal veins on the upper surface and a duller underside. Tips are pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (reaching up to 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed from seed; exceptional drought tolerance for a cool-season grass due to root depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone in the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, spreads primarily via tillering
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (requires at least 4-6 hours of sun); moderate water needs but possesses high drought avoidance; thrives in well-drained soils with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended mowing height is 3.0 to 4.0 inches; frequency should be high enough to never remove more than 1/3 of the blade; fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic/wear tolerance; good resistance to Brown Patch and Leaf Spot; high salt tolerance compared to other fescues; superior shade tolerance compared to Kentucky Bluegrass.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for slopes; relatively low invasive potential in manicured landscapes; often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to improve sod density and self-repairing capability.