Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31) or similar forage-type fescue; characterized by wider blades and a lighter green color compared to turf-type tall fescues.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass and good cold hardiness, although it may brown during extreme winter freezes.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass that forms dense clumps. It typically reaches 2-4 feet when unmowed, featuring erect stems and a dark-to-medium green color. Seed heads are open panicles appearing in late spring.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (5-10mm wide), flat, with prominent veins on the upper surface. The underside is glossy/shiny. Tips are sharply pointed. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small and blunt (and often hairy).
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep), giving it superior drought tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses. Low thatch tendency; slow recovery from wear due to bunch growth habit.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely adapted throughout the Transition Zone and temperate regions of North America.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); can occasionally produce short, weak rhizomes but lacks aggressive spreading capabilities.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred but moderate shade tolerance. Requires 1-1.5 inches of water per week in summer; highly drought-tolerant once established. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5 to 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually. Low to medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding because it does not spread via runners.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance once established, though slow to recover from damage. High resistance to many common turf diseases. Often used in high-traffic areas and for erosion control on slopes.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides forage for livestock and nesting cover for birds. Can be invasive in native prairie restoration sites; often contains endophytes (symbiotic fungi) that improve stress tolerance but can be toxic to some grazing livestock if not 'endophyte-free'.