Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); likely a modern blend like 'Rebel', 'Titan', or 'Falcon' based on leaf density and color.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4 through 7; high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold hardiness; semi-dormant in winter in colder regions.
About This Grass
Dense, medium-to-coarse textured grass with a rich green color. It maintains a bunchy growth habit that can become clumpy if not overseeded. It remains green for most of the year in transition zones but may go dormant in extreme heat or cold.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (4-10mm), flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip; dark green color with prominent longitudinal ribs on the upper surface; rolled vernation in the bud; short membranous ligule; auricles are usually absent or very small and blunt.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet deep); low thatch-forming tendency; moderate establishment speed from seed; excellent drought tolerance due to depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America and adapted to the Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); spreads primarily through tillering, lacks significant rhizomes or stolons.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers 6+ hours of sun but is more shade-tolerant than many cool-season grasses; requires deep, infrequent watering; adapted to wide pH range (5.5-7.5).
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0 to 4.0 inches; mow weekly; requires 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year; annual overseeding recommended to maintain density; Medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic and wear tolerance; high resistance to heat and drought; susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in high humidity; good ability to crowd out weeds when dense.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for slopes; low wildlife food value compared to native grasses; can be slightly invasive in native prairie settings if not managed.