Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
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 semi-evergreen in the Transition Zone.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass forming dense bunches. It maintains a deep green color and is known for its upright growth habit and significant durability under heat and drought compared to other cool-season grasses.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (3-10mm); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip; dark green color; vernation is rolled in the bud; leaf surface has prominent parallel veins/ridges with rough edges; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small/stunted and lack hair.
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch-forming tendency; moderate establishment speed from seed; superior drought tolerance due to root depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America and preferred in the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); primary spread through tillering with very short or absent rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (requires at least 4-6 hours of light); moderate water needs but possesses high drought avoidance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height of 3.0-4.0 inches; mowing frequency every 5-7 days; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low dethatching needs; high maintenance for density (requires annual overseeding).
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; good shade tolerance compared to other lawn grasses; moderate resistance to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia); excellent for erosion control and heavy traffic areas.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization; low invasive potential in manicured landscapes; often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to improve sod strength.