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 Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - Unspecified common cultivar
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance and cold hardiness; remains semi-evergreen in milder transitions.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. Forms dense clumps and maintains color well into the fall. Seed heads are panicles that are contracted or somewhat open, appearing in late spring if left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width usually 3-10mm (medium to coarse); shape is flat; tip is sharply pointed; color is dark green; vernation is rolled in the bud; leaf surfaces have prominent veins/ridges; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (short-hairy).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet deep); low thatch-forming tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought tolerance for a cool-season grass due to depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, particularly the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with limited short rhizomes in some modern cultivars
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours direct sun); moderate water needs but possesses high drought resistance compared to Kentucky Bluegrass; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 2.0-4.0 inches; frequency weekly during peak growth; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; low to medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding due to bunch-habit.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; good shade tolerance; highly resistant to many turf diseases though susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia); excellent for erosion control and high-traffic home lawns.
Ecological Information
Introduced status in North America; provides cover for small wildlife; superior soil stabilization due to deep roots; can be invasive in native prairie restoration; often blended with Kentucky Bluegrass.