Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a modern cultivar such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a C3 grass; good cold hardiness; enters semi-dormancy in extreme heat/cold.
About This Grass
A hardy, clump-forming grass with a deep green color and medium-to-coarse texture. Displays high density in turf applications. It remains green during cool months and can withstand heat better than most cool-season grasses.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 5-10mm (medium to coarse); flat shape with a deeply ridged/veined upper surface; pointed tips; dark green color; rolled vernation; short membranous ligule; auricles absent or very small (rudimentary); rough margins.
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); slow to form thatch; moderate establishment speed from seed; high drought tolerance 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; dense vertical growth habit
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours minimum sun; moderate water needs; highest drought tolerance of cool-season grasses; prefers pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
2.0-4.0 inches (thrives at higher cuts); weekly mowing; 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year; low thatch; requires periodic overseeding due to lack of lateral spread; Medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance; high shade tolerance relative to other lawn grasses; high resistance to summer patch and dollar spot; moderate salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization via deep roots; lower food value for wildlife compared to native bunchgrasses; can be invasive in native moist meadows; often mixed with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass for sod knitting.