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
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - generic variety visible via bunch-type growth and leaf texture
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; adapts well to the Transition Zone. Excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass and good cold hardiness.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass forming dense clumps. It maintains a dark green color longer into the summer and winter than many other cool-season grasses. Seed heads are open panicles as it matures.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (4-10mm). Vernation is rolled in the bud. The tip is pointed. Leaf surface has prominent parallel veins (ridges) on the upper side. Auricles are typically absent or very short and blunt/hairy. Ligule is a short, blunt membrane.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending 2-3 feet deep, providing excellent drought tolerance. It does not form a dense sod via spreading but rather through close clump growth. Low thatch tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, particularly the US Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, though some newer cultivars have short rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (one of the most shade-tolerant cool-season grasses). Requires moderate watering; has high drought tolerance due to deep roots. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height is 3.0-4.0 inches. Lower mowing stresses the plant. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft per year. Needs periodic overseeding because it does not spread to fill bare spots. Medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance for foot traffic. Good resistance to most common turf diseases. Excellent salt tolerance and moderate shade tolerance. It is often used for home lawns and sports fields in areas too hot for Kentucky Bluegrass.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in North America. Widely used for soil stabilization on slopes due to deep roots. Can be invasive in native prairie restoration areas. Often host to beneficial fungal endophytes which improve stress tolerance.