Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf and Pasture/Forage Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Non-specific (likely 'K-31' or a transition-zone forage-type cultivar)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains semi-evergreen in transition zones; good cold hardiness.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass with a robust, upright growth habit. In unmanaged states, it can reach 3-4 feet in height. It maintains a dark green color during spring and fall, often staying green longer into winter than many other cool-season grasses.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (5-10mm); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip; dark green color; leaves are rolled in the bud (rolled vernation); prominent longitudinal ridges on the upper surface with a smooth, glossy underside; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (short-ciliate), and the collar is broad and conspicuous.
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet deep); low thatch-forming tendency; moderate establishment speed from seed; high wear recovery due to crown resilience.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; naturalized extensively in the United States transition zone and temperate regions.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); strictly bunching but occasionally produces very short, weak rhizomes; forms thick, coarse mats when mature.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Moderate Shade (highly shade tolerant for a cool-season grass); requires approximately 1 inch of water per week but possesses high drought tolerance due to deep roots; prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0 to 4.0 inches; mowing frequency is weekly during growth peaks; requires 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; low to medium maintenance; does not require frequent dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance; high resistance to heat and drought; moderate salt tolerance; prone to Brown Patch disease in high humidity; excellent for erosion control and low-input home lawns.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; provides high-quality forage for livestock but some varieties contain endophytes (natural fungus) that can affect animal health; excellent for soil stabilization; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass for improved durability.