Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture/Forage, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31) or similar forage-type fescue
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; has high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass, making it the primary choice for the 'Transition Zone'.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooting grass with a vertical growth habit. It maintains a medium-to-dark green color year-round in temperate climates and forms dense clumps rather than a creeping mat.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (5-10mm wide) with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface, serrated edges, and a distinctly pointed tip. Vernation is rolled in the bud. The ligule is a short, blunt membrane, and auricles are small or absent but typically have short hairs.
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (up to 3-6 feet deep), providing excellent drought resistance. It has a low thatch-forming tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; naturalized throughout North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); slow to spread, lacking significant rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours direct sun); moderate water needs but possesses high drought tolerance once established.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; requires frequent mowing during spring/fall; fertilization of 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft annually; medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
High traffic/wear tolerance; good disease resistance to most pests excluding Brown Patch in high humidity; excellent salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced in North America; used heavily for soil stabilization on slopes; often contains endophytes (symbiotic fungi) that provide resistance to grazing and insects.