Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 transition zone grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a modern cultivar such as Rebel, Falcon, or Titanium based on find texture and dark color
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7 (best in Transition Zone); high heat tolerance for cool-season grass; remains green through mild winters; goes dormant in extreme cold or heat/drought.
About This Grass
A robust, upright grass with a deep green to dark green color. It forms dense clumps and reaches 2-4 feet if unmowed. When maintained as turf, it has a uniform, coarse to medium-fine texture depending on the cultivar. Seed heads are open panicles produced in late spring.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (5-10mm in forage types, 3-5mm in turf types); flat shape; pointed tip; dark green color. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Prominent veins on the upper surface with a rough margin. Inconspicuous membranous ligule; short, blunt auricles with fine hairs (ciliate).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought avoidance due to deep rooting; moderate wear recovery through tillering.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, specifically the transition zone and temperate regions
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); typically lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, though some newer cultivars have 'spreading' rhizomatous tendencies
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers 6+ hours of sun but is the most shade-tolerant cool-season turf grass. Moderate to high water needs; high drought tolerance for a cool-season grass. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year; low dethatching needs but requires regular aeration and occasional overseeding to maintain density; Medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance; resistant to many turf diseases but susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in high humidity. Good salt tolerance and best shade tolerance among common tall-bladed turf grasses.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides good soil stabilization due to deep roots; high forage value for livestock in pasture settings; can be invasive in native prairie settings; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass for improved wear and disease recovery.