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 of modern cultivars like Rebel or Falcon
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; exceptional heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; moderate cold tolerance; stays green well into autumn and early winter.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color and a dense, upright growth habit. It grows in clumps and can reach 3-4 feet if left unmowed, forming a thick canopy with prominent vertical ridging on the leaf surface.
Blade Characteristics
Width: 3-10mm (medium to coarse); Shape: Flat; Tip: Pointed; Color: Dark green; Vernation: Rolled in the bud; Ligule: Short, membranous, ciliate; Auricles: Small or absent; Collar: Broad and prominent.
Root System
Deeply fibrous (reaching 2-3 feet or more), providing excellent drought tolerance; low thatch tendency; slow recovery due to clump-forming nature with no aggressive runners.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized across North America, specifically the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (caespitose); primarily spreads via tillering, though some newer cultivars possess short rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours of daily sun; high water needs during establishment but very drought-tolerant once mature; prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5-7.0).
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0 to 4.0 inches; weekly frequency; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; low dethatching needs; high maintenance during overseeding cycles.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; excellent shade tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses; susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia solani) as shown in the localized dormant/dead patches in the image.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization via deep roots; low wildlife value in mowed turf; often used in a 90/10 blend with Kentucky Bluegrass to improve self-repairing capabilities.