Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, C3, Perennial
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture/Forage, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - likely a modern cultivar based on leaf texture and density
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7 (best in Transition Zone); high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold hardiness; semi-dormant in extreme drought.
About This Grass
A dense, tufted grass with a deep green color. Primarily upright growth with a coarse to medium-coarse texture compared to other cool-season grasses. Forms distinct clumps rather than a running sod.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (4-10mm); flat shape with a pointed tip; dark green; rolled vernation in the bud; prominent veins on the upper surface; short, membranous ligule; auricles are small or absent (usually blunt/rounded).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (reaching 2-3 feet or more); very low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent heat and drought tolerance due to root depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone of the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with very limited rhizome activity in some newer cultivars
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (best shade tolerance for cool-season grasses); moderate water needs; prefers soil pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 2.0-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year; low dethatching needs; high maintenance for high-traffic lawns.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance; high resistance to heat and drought; moderate salt tolerance; prone to Brown Patch disease in high humidity; does not spread to fill bare spots.
Ecological Information
Introduced in North America; high value for soil stabilization and erosion control; provides forage for livestock; can be competitive/invasive in some native prairie ecosystems.