Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - likely a modern cultivar such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series based on high density and medium-fine texture
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold tolerance; stays green through early winter.
About This Grass
A robust, deep-rooted cool-season grass with a medium-coarse texture. In a lawn setting, it maintains a dark green color. It is more heat and drought tolerant than other cool-season grasses. Unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet with panicle-type seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width: 3-5mm (medium-coarse); flat shape with a pointed tip; dark green color; vernation is rolled in the bud; leaf surface has prominent longitudinal veins; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (short-hairy if present).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (reaching 2-3 feet deep); low thatch-forming tendency; moderate establishment speed; deep roots provide excellent drought resistance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely cultivated across North America, specifically in the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); can occasionally produce short rhizomes but primarily spreads via tillering, forming a dense sod when seeded heavily
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires at least 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but stays green longer in drought than Kentucky Bluegrass; prefers soil pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; mow weekly during spring/fall; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low dethatching needs; annual aeration and overseeding common to maintain density.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; good shade tolerance compared to other lawn grasses; high resistance to heat stress; susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity; excellent for home lawns and sports fields.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; non-invasive in most landscapes, though can escape into pastures; often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass.