Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture/Forage, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky 31 (K-31) or similar unrefined forage-type fescue
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; highly adaptable to the Transition Zone. Excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; goes semi-dormant in extreme summer heat or winter cold.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass forming dense clumps. It maintains a medium-to-dark green color throughout the growing season and stays green longer into winter than warm-season grasses. Seed heads are open panicles, though rarely seen in maintained lawns.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (>4mm), flat shape, pointed tip. Blades feature prominent parallel veins on the upper surface and a dull underside. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small, blunt, and may have short hairs (ciliate).
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep), giving it superior drought tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses. Low thatch tendency and fast establishment from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, particularly the U.S. Transition Zone and Pacific Northwest
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clumping). Lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, leading to a patchy appearance if damaged.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (requires at least 4-6 hours of sun). Moderate water needs, though highly drought tolerant due to deep roots. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5 to 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches to shade the crown and conserve moisture. Requires 2-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually. Low to medium maintenance; require periodic overseeding to fill in bare spots due to bunch-type habit.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance and traffic resistance. High resistance to many common turf diseases but susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity. Good salt tolerance and excellent erosion control.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Used for soil stabilization on slopes and highway medians. Provides nesting cover for birds in pasture settings. Often contains endophytes (symbiotic fungi) that improve pest resistance but can be toxic to some livestock if unmanaged.