Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a blend of cultivars such as 'Falcon IV' or 'Rebel' series
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; has high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass but may suffer in extreme Zone 8+ heat without irrigation.
About This Grass
A dense, bunching grass with a deep green color. Maintained lawns appear uniform but can see individual clumps if thinned. It remains green for most of the year in temperate climates.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (3-10mm); prominent parallel veins/ribs on the upper surface; pointed tip (not boat-shaped); rolled vernation; ligule is a short membrane; auricles are absent or very small/short-haired.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (reaching 2-3 feet deep), which provides excellent drought resistance; slow to fill bare spots due to lack of aggressive stolons/rhizomes.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, particularly the transition zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); can develop very short rhizomes but primarily spreads via tillering
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers at least 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but possesses high drought avoidance due to deep roots; grows in wide pH range (5.5-7.5).
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; frequency weekly during peak growth; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft annually; medium maintenance level; requires periodic overseeding to maintain density.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; excellent shade tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses; resistant to many common pests; becomes dormant in extreme drought or cold.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; often contains fungal endophytes which protect the plant from insects but can be toxic to livestock if used in pasture; provides soil stabilization via deep roots.