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 exhibits typical refined leaf texture compared to 'Kentucky 31'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for its type; good cold tolerance; common in the US Transition Zone.
About This Grass
A hardy, deep-rooted grass forming dense clumps. It maintains a dark green color throughout the growing season and stays green longer into winter than warm-season grasses. Forms a rugged, vertical growth pattern.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse to medium width (4-10mm); flat shape with prominent equidistant ridges on the upper surface; pointed tips; dark green color; vernation is rolled in the bud; auricles are small or absent but usually have short hairs; ligule is short and membranous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (reaching 2-3 feet deep); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought tolerance for a cool-season grass due to depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, specifically the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with occasional short rhizomes; lacks a aggressive spreading habit
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but can survive drought by going dormant; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft/year; requires annual overseeding to repair bare spots due to bunch growth habit.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; moderate shade tolerance (better than Bluegrass); susceptible to Brown Patch disease in high humidity; excellent for erosion control on slopes.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides cover for small mammals; used for soil stabilization; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass (90/10 ratio) to improve sod knitting.