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) - generic variety visible
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold tolerance; does not go dormant as quickly in summer as Kentucky Bluegrass.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. It grows in distinct clumps rather than spreading laterally, often resulting in a patchy look if the lawn is thin. It maintains green color well into the winter in moderate climates.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 4-10mm (coarse); flat shape with a deeply ridged or veined upper surface and a smooth, shiny underside; pointed tips; rolled vernation; short membranous ligule; auricles are usually absent or small and inconspicuous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep), which provides excellent drought resistance; slow to recover from wear due to bunch-forming growth habit; low thatch producer.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, particularly the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks rhizomes or stolons (though some modern cultivars have limited rhizomes)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (moderate shade tolerance); requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs once established; best drought tolerance among cool-season grasses; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 2.5-4.0 inches; mowing frequency every 5-7 days during peak growth; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; medium maintenance; requires regular overseeding to maintain density.
Special Characteristics
High traffic/wear tolerance; good resistance to Brown Patch and Pythium (in modern cultivars); best adapted for the Transition Zone; excellent weed suppression when kept dense.
Ecological Information
Introduced (non-native) in North America; provides soil stabilization; limited wildlife value compared to native bunchgrasses; can be aggressive in native meadows.