Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) blend
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold hardiness; remains green in winter in Transition zones.
About This Grass
A robust, deep-rooted grass with a dense bunching habit. It maintain a dark green color throughout much of the year unless under severe heat or drought stress. Texture is medium-coarse compared to fine fescues but finer than forage fescues.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-10mm (medium-coarse); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip; dark green color; rolled vernation in the bud; prominent veins on the upper surface; lack of a prominent midrib; short membranous ligule; auricles are usually absent or small and hairless; rough (scabrous) margins.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (can reaching 3-6 feet deep); high drought tolerance due to depth; low thatch-forming tendency; slow to moderate establishment from seed; poor recovery from wear due to lack of stolons.
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 occasional short rhizomes; slow lateral spread
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours minimum; moderate water needs; excellent drought avoidance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0 to 4.0 inches; weekly frequency; fertilization 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year; requires periodic overseeding to maintain density; Medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance compared to other lawn grasses; high traffic tolerance while growing but slow repair; resistant to many turf diseases except Brown Patch in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provide soil stabilization on slopes; often contains endophytes (beneficial fungi) that deter insect pests; frequently mixed with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to improve sod strength.