Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass; highly popular in transition zones
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); specific cultivar unknown but displays typical TTTF features like improved density and darker color over forage types
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; best in the Transition Zone. Excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; stays green longer into winter than warm-season grasses.
About This Grass
A robust, deep-rooted cool-season grass. It remains green for most of the year in many climates. When unmown, it can reach 3-4 feet; maintained, it forms a dense, traffic-resistant sod. Color is deep emerald green; texture is medium to coarse.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (3-5mm). Upper surface has prominent equispaced ridges; lower surface is smooth/glossy. Tips are sharply pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (rudimentary).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet in ideal soils); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed from seed; provides excellent drought resistance due to depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely adapted throughout the United States, particularly in the Transition Zone and Pacific Northwest
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with limited short rhizomes; forms a dense canopy though lacks vigorous spreading ability
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade; requires 4-6 hours of sun. High water needs during establishment; once mature, it has the highest drought tolerance of cool-season grasses. Prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; mowing frequency is weekly during peak growth. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year. Medium maintenance level; requires periodic overseeding because it does not spread via stolons.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic/wear tolerance; good shade tolerance compared to Bluegrass; resistant to many turf diseases except Brown Patch in high humidity; excellent for erosion control on slopes.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides soil stabilization and filtration. Some varieties contain endophytes (fungi) that provide natural resistance to leaf-feeding insects. Often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to help fill in bare spots.