Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky 31 (K-31) or similar pasture-type wide-blade variety
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; performs well in the Transition Zone; goes dormant in extreme cold or heat.
About This Grass
A coarse, tough grass forming dense clumps. It features a medium to dark green color and remains green longer into the winter than warm-season grasses. Seed heads are open panicles that appear in late spring/early summer if unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (5-10mm wide) with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface. Blade tips are sharply pointed. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small and typically 'hairy' or fringed.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often extending 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; slower to establish than ryegrass but faster than bluegrass; excellent drought avoidance due to depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone of the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with occasional short rhizomes; lacks aggressive spreading
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but can survive extended dry periods by going semi-dormant; thrives in pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; frequency weekly during peak growth; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; requires periodic overseeding to fill in bare spots.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; moderate shade tolerance (better than bluegrass); resistant to many common lawn diseases like dollar spot, though susceptible to brown patch in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides good forage for livestock and ground cover for small wildlife; excellent for soil stabilization on slopes; can be invasive in native prairie restoration sites.