Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; has high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; enters semi-dormancy in extreme heat or cold.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color and upright growth. It remains green during mild winters and retains color better than bluegrass in heat.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-10mm (coarse); flat shape with a pointed tip; dark green color; rolled vernation; prominent longitudinal veins/ridges on the upper surface; no auricles; short membranous ligule.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch tendency; slow recovery from wear due to bunch-forming habit; excellent soil stabilization.
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 rare short rhizomes; forms thick, dense mats when seeded heavily
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most cool-season grasses); moderate water needs; excellent drought tolerance due to deep roots.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5-4.0 inches; weekly mowing; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; annual overseeding recommended to fill in bare spots.
Special Characteristics
High traffic tolerance; good disease resistance to Dollar Spot but susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity; excellent for transition zone lawns; salt tolerant.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; serves as forage for livestock (though some varieties contain endophytes); provides cover for small nesting birds; helps prevent erosion on slopes.