Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); likely a modern blend such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series based on high density and medium-fine texture.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; exceptional heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; transition zone champion; remains green until hard frost, then goes dormant/semi-dormant.
About This Grass
A dense, upright-growing grass with a deep green color. Maintained at 2-4 inches, it forms a thick canopy. It has a coarse to medium texture compared to fine fescues, with prominent longitudinal ribs on the upper leaf surface.
Blade Characteristics
Width: 3-5mm (medium-coarse); Shape: Flat; Tip: Tapered and pointed (not boat-shaped); Color: Dark green; Vernation: Rolled in the bud; Ligule: Short, membranous; Auricles: Small, blunt, or absent, usually with short hairs on the margins of the collar.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (reaching 3-6 feet deep); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought avoidance due to root depth; moderate wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely adapted throughout the United States, especially in the Transition Zone and temperate regions.
Growth Habit
Primarily Bunch-type (clump-forming). Some modern cultivars have short rhizomes (RTF types), but it lacks vigorous spreading ability, requiring overseeding for repair.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade (requires at least 4-6 hours); Water: Low to moderate; Drought Tolerance: High for a cool-season grass; Soil: Prefers pH 5.5-7.5, adapts well to clay soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing Height: 3.0-4.0 inches; Frequency: Weekly during growing season; Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year; Maintenance: Medium; requires annual overseeding to maintain density.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance and shade tolerance; resistant to many turf diseases but susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in high humidity; deep roots offer best-in-class drought resistance among C3 grasses.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization on slopes; low wildlife value in mowed turf; non-invasive in most managed landscapes; often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass for improved sod knitting.