Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf and Pasture Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - general variety
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; highly heat tolerant for a cool-season grass; remains green in winter unless extreme cold occurs.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. Forms individual clumps that merge into a dense sod under proper maintenance. Reaches 3-4 feet if left unmowed, with drooping panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-8mm (medium-coarse); flat shape; pointed tip; prominent veins on the upper surface; rolled vernation; short membranous ligule; auricles absent or very small and blunt.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet); slow thatch producer; moderate establishment speed from seed; exceptional drought tolerance due to depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America transition zones
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clumping), though some modern cultivars have short rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours minimum); moderate water needs; excellent drought avoidance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft/year; requires periodic overseeding as it does not spread via stolons; medium maintenance.
Special Characteristics
High traffic/wear tolerance; excellent shade tolerance compared to other cool-season species; resistant to most summer diseases like Brown Patch if managed correctly.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provide forage for livestock; excellent for soil erosion control on slopes; can be invasive in native prairie restorations; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass.