Tall Fescue
Schedonorus arundinaceus (formerly Festuca arundinacea) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass, highly well-adapted to the transition zone
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-type tall fescue (e.g., 'Rebel', 'Titan', 'Biltmore') characterized by finer leaf blades and denser growth than older pasture varieties like 'Kentucky 31'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9; excellent heat and drought tolerance for a cool-season grass, making it a staple of the transition zone; goes into semi-dormancy under extreme heat and drought
About This Grass
Forms a moderately coarse, upright, and dense turf with an attractive medium-to-dark green color that is retained well into winter; typical unmowed height reaches 2 to 4 feet with open panicle seed heads, while maintained turf is kept at 2 to 3.5 inches
Blade Characteristics
Medium-to-coarse width (3-6mm), flat shape with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface, pointed tips, medium to dark green color, rolled in the bud (vernation), with a short membranous ligule and small or absent auricles
Root System
Exceptionally deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2 to 3 feet or more), moderate to low thatch tendency, fast germination and establishment compared to bluegrass, providing superior drought tolerance and good wear recovery
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and parts of North Africa and Asia; widely naturalized and cultivated across the United States, particularly the transition zone and cool-humid regions
Growth Habit
Primarily a bunch-type grass with short rhizomes, forming dense clumps that gradually expand to create a uniform turf when seeded heavily
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to moderate shade (better shade tolerance than most cool-season grasses); moderate watering needs once established, with superior drought resistance due to deep roots; prefers well-drained loamy soils with pH between 5.5 and 6.5
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 2.0 to 3.5 inches; mow weekly during active growth; fertilization needs are moderate (2 to 4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year); requires occasional overseeding in thin areas; medium maintenance level
Special Characteristics
High traffic and wear tolerance, good resistance to brown patch and summer slump, moderate salt tolerance, excellent drought recovery via deep roots, poor winter color retention compared to some bluegrasses, excellent for home lawns and sports fields
Ecological Information
Introduced species widely used for soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes and roadsides; provides moderate wildlife habitat; dense root system aids in water filtration; can be mixed with Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass