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 such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series based on dark green color and medium texture.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; remains green in winter unless temperatures are extreme; susceptible to winter kill in Zone 3.
About This Grass
A dense, upright bunch-grass with a deep green color. When maintained, it forms a thick carpet; unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet. Seed heads are open panicles appearing in late spring.
Blade Characteristics
Width is medium-coarse (3-6mm); blades are flat with prominent longitudinal veins on the upper surface and a dull underside; tips are sharply pointed; vernation is rolled in the bud; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are absent or very کوچک (reduced).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (reaching 2-3 feet or more); low thatch-forming tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought avoidance due to deep soil penetration.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone and temperate regions of North America.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); spreads primarily through tillering with very short, inconspicuous rhizomes in some newer cultivars.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours minimum); moderate to high water needs during establishment, but high drought tolerance once mature; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; mow weekly during peak growth; fertilize 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft annually (mostly in fall); low dethatching needs; annual overseeding recommended to maintain density.
Special Characteristics
High traffic/wear tolerance; good shade tolerance compared to other cool-season grasses; susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia solani) in hot, humid summers; excellent erosion control.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides cover for small mammals; often contains beneficial fungal endophytes that deter leaf-feeding insects; commonly mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass (90/10 ratio) for self-repairing properties.