Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season; Perennial; C3; Transition zones
Grass Family
Poaceae; Subfamily Pooideae; Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) cultivar mixture
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7 (best in Transition Zone); high heat tolerance; good cold tolerance; stays green late into winter.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. Forms a dense, uniform turf when seeded heavily. It grows in upright clumps and lacks extensive spreading structures.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 4-10mm (medium to coarse); flat shape; pointed tip; dark green; rolled venation in the bud; prominent veins on upper surface; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (short-hairy).
Root System
Deeply fibrous (reaching 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought tolerance due to depth; good wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America and temperate regions
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); occasionally short rhizomes in modern turf-types
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours min); moderate water needs; highest drought tolerance among cool-season grasses; prefers pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Height: 3.0 to 4.0 inches; frequency: weekly during active growth; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen/1000 sq ft/year; low dethatching needs; high maintenance for elite turf.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance; resistant to Brown Patch (cultivar dependent); high salt tolerance; superior shade tolerance compared to Bluegrass.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for slopes; creates dense cover for small wildlife; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass for durability.