Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); variety unknown but exhibiting characteristics of modern genetics like improved color and density compared to 'K-31'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; adapts well to the Transition Zone; high cold tolerance; better heat tolerance than Kentucky Bluegrass; exhibits semi-dormancy in extreme heat/drought.
About This Grass
A robust, deep-rooted cool-season grass with a medium-coarse texture. It maintains a dark green color throughout the growing season and stays green longer into winter than most warm-season grasses. Forms a dense turf at heights of 3-4 inches.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-6mm (medium to coarse); flat shape with a pointed tip; prominently veined/ridged on the upper surface; dark green color; rolled vernation in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent; collar is broad and divided.
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep, sometimes more); 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 adapted throughout the Temperate Zone and the Transition Zone of the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with occasionally short rhizomes; forms a dense, uniform sod when seeded heavily
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade; requires at least 4-6 hours of sun; moderate to high water needs during establishment, high drought tolerance once mature; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; mow weekly during peak growth; fertilize 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year (mostly in fall); needs annual aeration; requires overseeding every few years as it does not spread via runners. Maintenance level: Medium.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance and traffic recovery; good resistance to Brown Patch and Leaf Spot; moderate salt tolerance; highest shade tolerance among common cool-season sun grasses; exceptional drought avoidance via deep roots.
Ecological Information
Introduced (Naturalized); provides soil stabilization on slopes; serves as food for various larvae/insects; often mixed with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass for self-repairing capabilities; non-invasive in most garden settings.