Tall Fescue
Schedonorus arundinaceus · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass, highly well-adapted to the transition zone
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture/Forage, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9; excellent heat and cold tolerance, well-suited for the transition zone
About This Grass
Forms upright, coarse-textured clumps with deep green color; unmowed height can reach 2 to 4 feet with open panicle seed heads, while maintained turf sits around 2.5 to 3.5 inches
Blade Characteristics
Medium to coarse width (4-8mm), flat with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface, pointed tips, rolled in the bud (vernation), with a short membranous ligule and small or absent auricles
Root System
Deep, extensive fibrous root system reaching depths of 2 to 4 feet, providing excellent drought tolerance and fast establishment from seed; low tendency to form excessive thatch
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe; widely cultivated and naturalized across North America, particularly in the transition zone and upper South
Growth Habit
Bunch-type grass that can form a moderately dense turf through short, underground rhizomes under ideal management
Sunlight & Water Needs
Adapts well to full sun and partial shade; moderate water requirements once established, with superior drought and heat tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses; prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 3.5 inches; medium maintenance level requiring 2 to 4 lbs of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; occasional overseeding needed to fill in thinning bunch-type clumps
Special Characteristics
High traffic and wear tolerance, good disease resistance, moderate shade tolerance, exceptional drought recovery due to deep roots, and excellent erosion control on slopes
Ecological Information
Introduced species widely used for soil stabilization, solar farm ground cover, and pasture; provides good cover for wildlife, though agricultural varieties often contain endophytes that deter herbivores