Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage Grass, Erosion Control, Lawn/Turf
Variety / Cultivar
Common or Forage-type (e.g., 'Kentucky 31' or 'Fawn')
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7 (best in transition zone); high heat tolerance for a cool-season grass and excellent cold hardiness. Dormant in extreme heat/cold.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass that forms dense clumps. When unmowed in a hay field, it reaches 2-4 feet in height. Features dark green foliage that often takes on a purplish or reddish tint at the nodes and base of the stems when maturing, as seen in the sample.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (5-10mm wide), flat, with prominent parallel veins and a rough (scabrous) margin. Pointed tips. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small, blunt, and typically have minute hairs on the margins.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet deep), providing excellent drought resistance. Low thatch tendency compared to stoloniferous grasses. Slow to establish but very persistent once mature.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eurasia and Northwest Africa; widely naturalized in North America and temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); occasionally short-rhizomatous but primarily spreads through seeds and tiller expansion
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours of sun. Moderate water needs, though highly drought tolerant due to root depth. Prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
In hay production, cut before seed head emergence (boot stage) to maintain nutrition. In turf, 3-4 inch height is ideal. Low to medium maintenance; requires 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft annually for optimal forage quality.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance, excellent drought recovery, and high tolerance to wet soils and salt. Common 'Kentucky 31' contains endophytes for pest/stress resistance, though this can cause fescue toxicosis in livestock if not managed.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides significant soil stabilization on slopes. Useful for erosion control but can be invasive in native prairies. Often found in mixes with clover or orchardgrass in hay fields.
Notes
Hay field