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, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a modern cultivar such as 'Titan', 'Rebel', or 'Falcon'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; best in the Transition Zone. High heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold hardiness but may experience winter burn in extreme northern climates.
About This Grass
A robust, upright grass with a medium to coarse texture. It exhibits a deep green color that remains stable through autumn. When unmowed, it reaches 2-4 feet; maintained turf stays at 2-4 inches. Seed heads are open panicles produced in late spring.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (3-6mm). Blades are flat with prominent parallel veins/ribs on the upper surface and a dull underside. Tips are sharply pointed. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small, blunt, and short-hairy.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending 2-3 feet in ideal soils. Moderate establishment speed. Low thatch tendency compared to spreading grasses. Excellent drought avoidance due to root depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America and adapted to the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with limited short rhizomes; forms a dense, uniform sod when seeded at high rates
Sunlight & Water Needs
Adapts to full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours min); requires moderate watering (1-1.5 inches per week). High drought tolerance once established. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 3 to 4 inches. Frequency is weekly durante peak growth. Needs 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually. Low to medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding because it lacks aggressive spreading.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance for foot traffic; resistant to many turf diseases except Brown Patch in high humidity. Excellent salt tolerance and the best shade tolerance of the common cool-season turf grasses.
Ecological Information
Introduced status in North America; provides soil stabilization on slopes. Often contains beneficial endophytes that deter surface-feeding insects and improve stress tolerance. Commonly blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass for better recovery.