Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - generic multi-cultivar blend likely including Rebel or Falcon series
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; moderate cold tolerance; no true winter dormancy (semi-evergreen).
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color and vertical growth. It forms dense clumps rather than a running mat. Maintined, it appears uniform, but can look ragged if blades are shredded by dull mower blades.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-8mm (coarse/medium), flat shape, pointed tip with prominent veins/ribs on the upper surface and a shiny underside. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (short-hairy).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought avoidance due to depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, specifically in the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); primary spread through tillering with very limited short-rhizome production in some cultivars
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade; prefers 6+ hours sun; moderate water needs; highest drought tolerance of cool-season grasses; prefers well-drained soil pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; frequency weekly; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low dethatching needs; annual overseeding recommended to fill gaps.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; high shade tolerance relative to other cool-season grasses; resistant to many turf diseases except Brown Patch in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; excellent soil stabilization; provides low-level wildlife cover; can be invasive in native meadows; often mixed with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass for self-repair.