Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture/Forage Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a modern commercial blend
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold tolerance; stays green in winter in milder climates.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass forming dense clumps. It maintains a green color longer than many grasses in summer heat. Seed heads are large, open panicles.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade (4-10mm width) with a pointed tip; flat shape with prominent veins on top and a shiny underside; rolled vernation; membranous ligule; auricles absent or very small and blunt.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet); high establishment speed from seed; low thatch tendency; excellent drought tolerance due to depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone in North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); very limited short rhizomes occasionally present
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires moderate watering but is the most drought-tolerant cool-season grass; prefers slightly acidic to neutral soils (pH 5.5-7.0).
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height: 3.0-4.0 inches; mowing frequency: weekly; fertilization: 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft; low to medium maintenance; does not require frequent dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance; high shade tolerance relative to other cool-season grasses; good resistance to Brown Patch and Pythium with modern cultivars; salt tolerant.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for slopes; often contains endophytes (beneficial fungi) that deter insect herbivory.