Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass (Tolerant of transition zone conditions)
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Erosion Control grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) blend
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; good cold tolerance; stays green longer into winter than warm-season grasses.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. It grows in distinct bunches, forming a dense canopy when seeded heavily. It maintains a medium-to-coarse leaf texture and produces panicle seed heads if left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Width: coarse (>4mm); Shape: flat; Tip: pointed; Color: dark green; Vernation: rolled in the bud; Veins: prominent longitudinal ridges on the upper surface; Ligule: short, membranous; Auricles: small, blunt, or absent (fringed with hairs).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought tolerance due to depth; forms a tough sod through sheer density rather than stolons.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the United States transition zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); can occasionally produce very short rhizomes but lacks aggressive spreading capabilities.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade (moderate shade tolerance); Water: Moderate; requires 1 inch per week but can survive periods of drought by going semi-dormant; Soil: adapts to many types, thrives in pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height: 3.0-4.0 inches; Frequency: weekly; Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; Maintenance: Medium; requires regular overseeding to fill in thinned clumps.
Special Characteristics
High traffic/wear tolerance; good resistance to many lawn diseases (though susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity); moderate shade tolerance; excellent erosion control.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides soil stabilization for slopes; some varieties contain endophytes (beneficial fungi) that deter insect pests; often mixed with Bluegrass for improved recovery.