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); variety unknown but exhibits typical dense, upright bunching for home lawn use
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; handles transition zone heat better than other cool-season grasses; excellent cold hardiness; enters semi-dormancy in extreme heat or drought.
About This Grass
Deep-rooted, bunching grass with a coarse to medium-coarse texture. Displays a dark green color that persists into late fall. Typically maintained at 2-4 inches; grows to 3-4 feet if unmowed with panicle-type seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium-coarse (4-10mm); flat shape with a pointed tip; dark green color; leaves are rolled in the bud (rolled vernation); prominent veins on the upper surface; small, blunt, or absent auricles; short membranous ligule.
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch-forming tendency; slow to moderate establishment from seed; excellent wear recovery if the crown is intact but slow to fill in bare spots.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone and temperate climates of North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); has limited rhizomatous activity in modern turf-type cultivars; forms a dense canopy but does not spread aggressively via stolons
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires at least 4-6 hours of sun; high drought tolerance once established due to deep roots; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly mowing; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low dethatching needs; annual overseeding recommended to maintain density due to bunching habit.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear tolerance for high-traffic areas; high shade tolerance compared to other lawn grasses; resistant to many turf diseases but susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for slopes; provides forage for livestock though some older varieties contain endophytes harmful to certain animals; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass.