Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky-31 (K-31) or similar coarse 'forage-type' cultivar
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; highly suited for the 'Transition Zone' where it handles heat better than bluegrass and cold better than Bermuda.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, clump-forming grass that grows in distinct bunches. It has a deep green color that stays green longer into the summer than other cool-season grasses. Unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet; maintained turf is dense but prone to 'clumping' if the stand thins. Seed heads are large, open panicles.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm width), flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip. Color is dark green with prominent longitudinal veins (ribbed) on the upper surface. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small, blunt, and short-hairy.
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep), providing superior drought tolerance for a cool-season grass. It does not form a dense sod via spreading but rather through individual plant expansion; very low thatch tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across the United States transition zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Moderate Shade (best shade tolerance among cool-season grasses); requires roughly 1 inch of water per week; prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0 to 4.0 inches; mow frequently to prevent clumping; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low-to-medium maintenance; frequent overseeding required to maintain density.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance and wear resistance; high drought and heat tolerance; moderate salt tolerance; prone to Brown Patch disease in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides moderate forage for livestock and cover for small birds; highly effective for soil stabilization on slopes; can be invasive in native prairie ecosystems.