Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn, Turf, and Sports Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; highly successful in the Transition Zone where it is too hot for Bluegrass and too cold for Bermuda.
About This Grass
A dense, bunching grass with a deep green color and vertical growth. It forms a thick sod through heavy tillering but does not spread aggressively. It maintains color well even in cold seasons and avoids the 'straw' look of warm-season grasses in winter.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse to medium width (3-10mm), flat blade with prominent 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.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, often reaching 2-3 feet in depth. Low thatch tendency compared to bluegrass. High drought tolerance due to depth but slow to recover from bare spots because it lacks strong runners.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone in North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); can develop short, limited rhizomes in newer turf-type varieties
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (excellent shade tolerance for a cool-season grass). Requires moderate watering but survives dormancy during extreme heat/drought better than most cool-season grasses. Prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height: 3.0 to 4.0 inches. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft per year. Needs periodic overseeding to fill in thinned areas as it doesn't self-repair quickly. Low to medium maintenance.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance, good disease resistance (though susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity), and the best shade tolerance among common cool-season sun grasses. Excellent salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides soil stabilization and erosion control. Often mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass (90/10 ratio) to provide better disease resistance and drought recovery.