Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass; highly adapted to the Transition Zone.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, also used for Pasture and Erosion Control.
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); likely a modern blend of cultivars like 'Falcon' or 'Rebel' based on the medium-fine blade width and dense growth habit.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; has the best heat tolerance among cool-season grasses but will go dormant or brown in extreme summer heat without water.
About This Grass
A hardy, deep-rooted grass with a bunching growth habit. It maintains a dark green color throughout the growing season and stays green longer into winter than warm-season grasses. Texture is medium-coarse but modern turf-types are significantly finer than older 'K-31' varieties. Seed heads are open panicles produced in late spring if left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium (3-5mm) with a prominent midrib and visible longitudinal veins on the upper surface. Tips are sharply pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligules are short and membranous; auricles are absent or very small/short with hairs.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, often reaching 2-3 feet in depth, which provides excellent drought tolerance. It does not produce heavy thatch and has a moderate establishment speed from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized throughout North America, specifically in the transition zone and temperate regions.
Growth Habit
Predominantly Bunch-type (clump-forming). Some modern cultivars have limited rhizomatous activity for minor self-repair, but it does not form a dense mat like Kentucky Bluegrass.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers Full Sun but has moderate shade tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses. Requires moderate watering; once established, it can survive long dry periods by going semi-dormant. Prefers well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 3.0 to 4.0 inches. It should be mowed frequently enough to never remove more than 1/3 of the blade. Requires 2-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually. Does not typically require dethatching.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance and excellent disease resistance to many common turf pathogens, though susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity. Very salt-tolerant and holds color well in autumn.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides excellent soil stabilization due to deep roots. While useful for erosion control, it can be invasive in native prairie ecosystems. Often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass to improve sod knitting.