Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; exceptional heat tolerance for cool-season grass and good cold hardiness; remains green in mild winters.
About This Grass
A hardy, coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. Grown as a low-to-medium maintenance lawn, it grows 2-4 feet if left unmowed, producing open panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Width is medium-coarse (4-10mm); flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip; dark green color with prominent longitudinal veins on top; rolled vernation in the bud; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are generally absent or small and blunt; collar is broad and divided.
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch tendency; slow establishment from seed but provides excellent drought resistance and moderate wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone and temperate regions of North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming), may occasionally produce very short rhizomes; forms a dense sod when seeded heavily
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (excellent shade tolerance for a cool-season grass); requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but can survive extended dry periods by going dormant.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; low dethatching needs; high maintenance during establishment, medium thereafter.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance due to leaf toughness; resistant to many turf diseases except Brown Patch in high humidity; high salt tolerance; excellent for home lawns and erosion control on slopes.
Ecological Information
Introduced to North America; provides soil stabilization via deep roots; often host to beneficial endophytes (fungi) that provide insect resistance; commonly mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass for improved traffic and shade performance.