Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season perennial, C3 pathway
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture/Forage, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Likely a forage-type or 'Kentucky 31' based on coarse texture and light green color
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; adapts well to the heat of the Transition Zone while maintaining cold hardiness.
About This Grass
A robust, coarse-textured grass with a deep green to light green color. It grows in upright bunches and produces a panicle seed head when left unmowed. It maintains color well into the fall.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide) with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface and a glossy underside. Tips are pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent but typically have minute hairs (ciliate).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (reaching 2-3 feet or more), which provides excellent drought tolerance and stability. Low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone of the United States
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming) with occasional short rhizomes; forms a dense tuft but does not spread aggressively side-to-side
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun but has moderate shade tolerance. Requires roughly 1 inch of water per week; highly drought-tolerant once established compared to other cool-season grasses. Prefers pH 5.5-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended mowing height of 3.0 to 4.0 inches for turf. Low to medium maintenance; requires 2-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year. Periodic overseeding is required to fill in thinned clumps.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance due to leaf toughness; excellent heat and drought tolerance; susceptible to Brown Patch disease in high humidity; good salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides forage for livestock (though some varieties contain endophytes). Used extensively for soil stabilization on slopes and highway medians.