Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage Grass, Lawn/Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Generic/Kentucky 31
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold hardiness; semi-dormant in extreme summer heat or winter cold.
About This Grass
A coarse, deep-rooted perennial bunchgrass. It grows in dense clumps with upright stems, reaching 2-4 feet if left unmowed. It maintains a dark green color during cool weather and stays green longer into summer than other cool-season grasses.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, 5-10mm wide; flat surface with prominent veins; pointed tip; dark green color; rolled vernation; lacks auricles; very short membranous ligule; rough/serrated edges.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 3-6 feet deep); very drought tolerant; high wear recovery; low thatch-forming tendency; slow establishment compared to ryegrass.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; naturalized throughout the United States (Transition Zone)
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); very limited rhizome development
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers 6+ hours of sun but highly shade-tolerant; moderate watering; excellent drought resistance due to deep roots.
Mowing & Maintenance
2.0-4.0 inches (mowed high); low to medium frequency; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; aeration required every 1-2 years; needs periodic overseeding to fill in clumps.
Special Characteristics
Extreme traffic tolerance; resistant to many turf diseases; moderate salt tolerance; one of the best cool-season grasses for shade; low maintenance requirements.
Ecological Information
Introduced; widely used for soil stabilization on slopes; low wildlife food value but provides cover; can be invasive in native prairies; often host to beneficial endophytes.