Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage and Low-maintenance Turf
Variety / Cultivar
Forage-type Tall Fescue (likely Kentucky-31 or similar landrace)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass, making it the primary choice for the Transition Zone. Retains color into winter until hard freeze.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass forming dense clumps. It reaches 2-4 feet when unmowed. Color is typically medium to dark green. Seed heads are large, open panicles (4-12 inches long) that appear branched and drooping at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (5-10mm wide), flat with prominent longitudinal ribs on the upper surface. Tips are sharply pointed. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small, blunt, and may have short hairs (ciliate).
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet deep), giving it superior drought tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses. Minimal thatch producer; slow to recover from heavy wear due to bunching habit.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America and Australia
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); occasionally produces short rhizomes but lacks strong spreading ability
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires at least 4-6 hours of sun. High drought tolerance once established; prefers well-drained soils but tolerates wet clay and a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3-4 inches for turf; mower frequency as needed to remove 1/3 height. Requires 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually. Low to medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding to fill in thinned clumps.
Special Characteristics
High tolerance for heat and drought; moderate shade tolerance; excellent for erosion control on slopes; susceptible to Brown Patch disease in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides significant forage for livestock and ground cover for nesting birds. Can be invasive in native prairies; often contains endophytes that provide insect resistance but can affect livestock health.