Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass; highly adaptable to the transition zone
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, also used for Erosion Control and Pasture
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-type Tall Fescue (TTTF); likely a blend of improved cultivars such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series given its bunching density and color
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-9; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; stays green through mild winters; goes dormant during extreme summer heat/drought.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass forming dense, upright tufts. It maintains a deep green color longer into winter than warm-season grasses. When unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet; when maintained, it forms a durable, wear-resistant surface.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (3-10mm); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip; dark green color; vernation is rolled in the bud; leaf surface has prominent longitudinal veins; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (short-ciliate); collar is broad and continuous.
Root System
Exceptionally deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch tendency; slow recovery from damage due to lack of spreading structures; provides excellent drought resistance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, specifically in the U.S. Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, leading to a visible clumping appearance in thinned areas
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial sun to full sun (4-6 hours minimum); moderate shade tolerance (better than Bluegrass); moderate water requirements but highly drought-tolerant once established due to deep roots; prefers pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height should be 2.5-4.0 inches; frequency weekly during peak growth; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; low dethatching needs; requires periodic overseeding to maintain density; overall medium maintenance.
Special Characteristics
High traffic/wear tolerance; excellent resistance to common turf diseases like dollar spot, though susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in high humidity; excellent salt and shade tolerance compared to other cool-season species.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides cover for small mammals; excellent for soil stabilization on slopes; often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to fill in gaps; can be invasive in native prairie environments.