Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae; subfamily Pooideae; tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf and Pasture Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - generic mix identifiable by density and medium-coarse texture
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7 (best in transition zone); high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold hardiness.
About This Grass
A hardy, clump-forming grass with a deep green color and vertical growth. It forms a dense turf if seeded heavily but tends to bunch if thinned. It remains green during most of the winter in transition zones.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-10mm (medium to coarse); flat shape; pointed tip; dark green color; rolled vernation; prominent longitudinal veins/ridges on the upper surface; small membranous ligule; auricles absent or very small and blunt.
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; high drought avoidance due to root depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; naturalized throughout North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); very limited short rhizomes rarely effective for spreading
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers 6+ hours sun; moderate water needs but can survive extended dry periods by going dormant; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 2.5-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low dethatching needs; high maintenance during establishment, medium thereafter.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic/wear tolerance; good shade tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses; susceptible to Brown Patch disease in high humidity; high salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; high forage value for livestock but some varieties contain endophytes; non-invasive in most managed landscapes.