Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage Grass, Lawn/Turf Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31) or similar forage-type fescue
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7 (adaptable to zone 8 with irrigation). Exhibits summer semi-dormancy in hot climates like South Carolina.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, upright grass forming dense clumps. It is deep-green with high vertical growth. Seed heads are panicles, though often removed in maintained settings. In South Carolina Junes, it remains green but begins to show heat stress.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (>4mm), flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip. Color is medium to dark green. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Prominent large veins (longitudinal ribs) on the upper surface; lack of a prominent midrib on the underside. Auricles are absent or very short/blunt. Ligule is short and membranous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep), giving it superior drought tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses. Minimal thatch development; slow to recover from bare spots due to lack of spreading stolons.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone and Southeast USA
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); very limited short rhizomes possible but primarily bunching
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Shade (highly shade tolerant for a cool-season grass). Requires moderate to high water during SC summers to avoid dormancy; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; frequency weekly during spring/fall. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft annually (primarily in fall). Maintenance Level: Medium.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance once established; high drought tolerance; resistant to many turf diseases except Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) during humid southern summers; good salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Widely used for soil stabilization on slopes. Often contains endophytic fungi that provide pest resistance but can be harmful to grazing livestock (fescue toxicosis) if not endophyte-free.
Notes
Growing in June in South Carolina