Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture/Forage, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31) or similar pasture-type variety
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; has high heat tolerance for its class but may struggle in extreme southern heat or extreme northern cold.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass forming dense individual clumps. It maintains a medium-to-dark green color. When unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet. Seed heads are branched panicles. The image shows a distinctly clumpy habit with visible shredding on mowed tips.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is coarse (5-10mm); shape is flat with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface and a dull underside. Tips are pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent but may have hairs on the margins of the collar.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending 2-3 feet deep, allowing for excellent drought avoidance. Low thatch-forming tendency; establishment is moderate via seed.
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 limited short rhizomes; lacks extensive spreading ability
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours minimum); high drought tolerance for a cool-season grass but requires deep watering during summer heat to prevent dormancy.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 3.0 to 4.0 inches; frequency should follow the 1/3 rule. Fertilization 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year. Low-to-medium maintenance; aeration recommended annually.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear tolerance and drought resistance; resistant to most lawn diseases like Dollar Spot but susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity. Excellent for high-traffic areas and erosion-prone slopes.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides forage for livestock and seeds for birds. Can be invasive in native prairies; often mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass for better sod knit and self-repairing capability.