Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Generic forage or common tall fescue (likely 'Kentucky 31' based on coarse texture and light green color)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; widely grown in the Transition Zone. High heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; goes into semi-dormancy during extreme heat or cold.
About This Grass
A robust, coarse-textured perennial grass forming dense, upright clumps. It maintains a medium to light green color throughout the growing season and produces tall, branched panicle seed heads if left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm width) with prominent parallel veins/ridges on the upper surface. Blade tips are sharply pointed. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short, membranous, and truncate. Auricles are small and typically hairy (ciliate).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, often reaching 2-3 feet in depth. Low thatch tendency due to bunching habit. Fast establishment from seed but slow to recover from damage due to lack of extensive runners.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, particularly the transition zone and temperate regions.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); can occasionally produce short rhizomes but primarily spreads through tillering/clumping.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun but has high shade tolerance for a cool-season grass. High water needs for peak greenness, but excellent drought tolerance due to deep roots. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended height 3.0-4.0 inches. Low to medium maintenance; requires 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year. Frequent overseeding is often required to maintain density as clumps do not spread.
Special Characteristics
Extremely high traffic and wear tolerance once established. Resistant to many common turf diseases but susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in high humidity. Good salt tolerance and moderate shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Invasive in some natural ecosystems (prairies). Provides forage for livestock but often contains an endophytic fungus (Epichloe coenophiala) that can be toxic to some animals. Excellent for soil stabilization on slopes.