Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Parks, Sports Fields, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; has high heat tolerance for cool-season grass and good cold hardiness. Transition zone favorite.
About This Grass
A dense, upright-growing turf grass with a deep green color. Maintained heights are usually 2-4 inches; grows to 3-4 feet if unmowed. It has a coarse to medium texture and produces large, open panicle seed heads in late spring when mature.
Blade Characteristics
Medium to coarse blades (3-6mm wide) with prominent longitudinal veins on the upper surface. Tips are pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short, membranous, and truncate; auricles are small or absent (shortly ciliate).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep), giving excellent drought tolerance. Low thatch tendency; slow recovery from wear due to bunch-forming habit.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone of the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type; occasionally very short rhizomes, forming thick clumps
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (prefers 4-6 hours of light). Deep, infrequent watering; high drought tolerance for a cool-season grass. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
2.5 to 4.0 inches height. Mowing frequency: weekly during peak growth. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft annually. Low to medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding to fill in bare spots.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear resistance once established; high drought tolerance; moderate shade tolerance. Susceptible to Brown Patch disease in high humidity. Very effective at crowding out weeds in thick stands.
Ecological Information
Introduced to North America in late 1800s. Provides soil stabilization on slopes/embankments. While used in pastures, some varieties are endophyte-enhanced for pest resistance, which can affect livestock. Commonly blended with Kentucky Bluegrass.