Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 carbon fixation
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); specific cultivar unknown, but exhibits the typical narrower leaf blade and darker green of modern turf-type varieties compared to 'Kentucky 31'.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; best in the Transition Zone where summer heat is too high for bluegrass and winters are too cold for bermuda. Becomes dormant in extreme cold or prolonged drought.
About This Grass
A coarse-to-medium textured perennial grass with a deep green color. It maintains a dense upright habit when mowed. Unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet with branched panicle seed heads. It is known for its durability and staying green longer into summer than other cool-season grasses.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium (3-4mm); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip and prominent longitudinal ribs/veins on the upper surface. Vernation is rolled in the bud. The ligule is a short, blunt membrane; auricles are small or absent (short and hairy if present). The leaf margins are typically rough/serrated to the touch.
Root System
Deep and fibrous root system, often extending 2-3 feet or more in favorable soils. Low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed from seed. The deep roots provide superior drought tolerance and good wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, especially in the Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); occasionally produces very short rhizomes, but lacks aggressive spreading capability, resulting in a dense tufted appearance.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (highly versatile). Requires roughly 1 inch of water per week; has excellent drought avoidance due to root depth. Well-adapted to a wide range of soil pH (5.5-7.5).
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height is 2.0-4.0 inches; mowing frequency is moderate. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year. Low-to-medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding as it does not spread via runners to fill bare spots.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance and high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass. Good resistance to most common turf diseases, though susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity. Very good salt and shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Widely used for soil stabilization on slopes and highway medians due to its tough root system. Provides moderate wildlife cover; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass for a more resilient lawn ecosystem.