Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a blend (e.g., K-31 or modern dwarf varieties)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass but goes semi-dormant in high summer heat and extreme cold.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass forming dense clumps. It is dark green when healthy but shows tan/yellow dormancy and patchy thinning under heat stress as seen in the image. Seed heads are large, open panicles for unmowed specimens.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width typically 5-10mm (coarse); prominently veined on the upper surface with a dull underside. Tip shape is pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (non-clasping).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, often reaching 3-6 feet deep. Slow to form thatch. Moderate establishment speed; poor self-repair since it lacks spreading stems.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, especially the Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, spreading primarily via tillering.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than many cool-season grasses). High water needs during summer heat; moderate drought tolerance due to deep roots.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; requires weekly mowing. 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually. Requires periodic overseeding to fill in bare spots due to bunch-type habit. Medium maintenance.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance once established. Resistant to many diseases like Dollar Spot but susceptible to Brown Patch in humid heat. Good salt tolerance and moderate shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides soil stabilization on slopes; low wildlife food value compared to native grasses; can be invasive in native prairie ecosystems.