Tall Fescue (mixed with White Clover)
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 or similar coarse-textured forage/utility fescue
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold tolerance; lacks a strong winter dormancy compared to warm-season grasses.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass that remains green throughout the year in moderate climates. It forms a dense, durable turf if seeded heavily, but in this specimen, it appears as multi-leafed clumps interspersed with Trifolium repens (white clover). Color is medium to dark green.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (>4mm); flat shape with a pointed tip; prominent longitudinal veins/ridges on the upper surface; rolled vernation in the bud; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (short-ciliate); leaf margins are often rough/serrated.
Root System
Deep, extensive fibrous root system reaching 2-3 feet; low thatch-forming tendency; slow to moderate establishment speed from seed; high wear recovery through individual plant vigor.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized throughout North America, specifically in the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); very limited short rhizomes, lacks stolons. Forms distinct clumps over time without overseeding.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (moderate shade tolerance); requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but possesses high drought resistance due to deep roots; grows best in pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; mowing frequency high during spring/fall; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; medium maintenance requirement; requires regular overseeding to maintain density.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance and wear resistance; resistant to most lawn diseases like Dollar Spot but susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity; high salt tolerance; deep roots allow it to survive droughts that kill bluegrass.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provide soil stabilization and erosion control; often hosts endophytic fungi that offer resistance to insects; commonly blended with Kentucky Bluegrass or Perennial Ryegrass; the visible clover provides nitrogen fixation for the grass.