Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a modern dark-green variety such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for its class; remains green in winter in Transition Zones unless extreme cold occurs.
About This Grass
A dense, bunching grass with a deep green color and vertical growth. It forms a thick, carpet-like turf when seeded heavily, with exceptional heat and drought tolerance for a cool-season grass.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width: medium to coarse (3-4mm); flat shape; pointed tip; dark green color; rolled vernation; prominent longitudinal ribs on the upper surface; short, membranous ligule; auricles are small or absent (usually blunt/rounded if present).
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep), which is the source of its drought resistance; very low thatch tendency; slow recovery from wear due to bunching habit.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted throughout the United States Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); limited short rhizomes in some modern cultivars; spreads primarily through tillering
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (requires at least 4-6 hours of sun); moderate water needs but possesses high drought avoidance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0 to 4.0 inches; weekly mowing; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year; annual overseeding recommended to fill in bare spots; medium maintenance.
Special Characteristics
High traffic tolerance (wear), excellent shade tolerance compared to Bluegrass, disease focus on Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia), moderate salt tolerance, excellent at crowding out weeds when dense.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for slopes; creates dense cover for small ground-dwelling wildlife; often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to improve sod strength and fill-in ability.