Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass; highly adaptive to the transition zone.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, also used for Pasture and Erosion Control.
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); likely a common commercial variety such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green until hard frost; limited winter dormancy compared to warm-season grasses.
About This Grass
A robust, deep-rooted grass forming dense clumps. It maintains a medium-dark green color longer into the summer than many cool-season grasses. Texture is medium-to-coarse with a visible vertical growth habit. Seed heads are open panicles produced in late spring if left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width usually coarse (4-10mm); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip; dark green with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short, membranous; auricles are small or absent (never clasping).
Root System
Exceptionally deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch-forming tendency; moderate establishment speed from seed. Deep roots provide superior drought avoidance compared to Bluegrass.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, particularly in the Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, resulting in a lifestyle where individual plants expand into tillers but don't 'creep' rapidly.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers Full Sun but has moderate shade tolerance. High water needs for lush growth, but high drought tolerance for survival; adapts to various soil types from clay to sandy loam (pH 5.5-7.5).
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4 inches; mowing frequency should be weekly during peak growth. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year. Maintenance level: Medium; requires regular overseeding to repair bare spots since it does not spread.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance once established; good resistance to many turf diseases except Brown Patch in high humidity; excellent salt tolerance; superior drought survival due to deep roots.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides cover for small wildlife but can be invasive in native prairie restorations; excellent for soil stabilization on slopes due to deep roots; often blended with Bluegrass for diversity.