Tall Fescue (Coarse/Wild type)
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage, Turf, and invasive weed in fine lawns
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31) or a similar coarse-textured forage/utility type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7. Known for exceptional heat tolerance in the Transition Zone and cold hardiness during winter dormancy.
About This Grass
A robust, coarse-textured grass with a distinct upright growth habit. It appears as dark green, thick-bladed clumps that grow faster and taller than surrounding fine turf. In summer, it remains green while others may go dormant, but it looks like a weed when mixed with fine-leafed species.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse (5-10mm wide), flat, with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface. The tips are sharply pointed. Vernation is rolled in the bud. The ligule is a short, continuous membrane, and small, short-hairy auricles are often present. The leaf margins (edges) are notably rough or serrated to the touch.
Root System
Deep, extensive fibrous root system reaching 2-3 feet deep. Low thatch tendency due to bunching habit. Fast establishment but slow to recover from physical damage because it cannot spread sideways.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, specifically in the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clumping). Does not possess significant rhizomes or stolons, leading to prominent isolated hummocks in finer lawns.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade. Higher shade tolerance than most cool-season grasses. Excellent drought tolerance once established due to deep roots. Prefers well-drained soil but tolerates clay and wet feet better than most.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3-4 inches. Frequent mowing required during spring and fall. Low-to-medium fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft/yr). Requires overseeding to repair bare spots since it does not spread.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear and traffic tolerance. High resistance to many common turf diseases like dollar spot, though susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity. Very high salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species. Provides good soil stabilization for erosion control. Can be invasive in native prairie ecosystems. Seed heads provide food for birds, though some cultivars contain endophytes that can be toxic to livestock if not managed.