Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture/Forage, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); specific cultivar unknown but displays characteristic improved density
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green through mild winters; no true stoloniferous dormancy.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured bunchgrass that maintains a deep green color. Forms individual clumps that can become patchy if not overseeded regularly. Unmowed height reaches 2-4 feet with nodding panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), prominent veins on the upper surface, leaf edges are rough/serrated to the touch. Tips are sharply pointed. Vernation is rolled in the bud. No auricles; ligule is short and membranous.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet or more), which provides superior drought tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses. Very low thatch producer.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone of the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); occasionally produces very short rhizomes but lacks aggressive spreading capability
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most cool-season grasses); needs 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs but survives drought via dormancy.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5–4.0 inches; mowing too short weakens the bunch. Low to medium maintenance; requires 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance once established; high resistance to heat and drought; susceptible to Brown Patch disease in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides forage for livestock and seeds for birds; used for stabilizing hillsides due to deep roots; non-invasive compared to rhizomatous grasses.