Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage, Turf, or Erosion Control grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or Field-type Tall Fescue
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; goes dormant in extreme heat or cold.
About This Grass
A coarse, hardy grass forming dense clumps. It maintains a deep green color in cool weather and grows 12 to 40 inches tall when unmowed. Seed heads are open panicles, somewhat slumped.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades 4-10mm wide; flat with prominent vertical veins on the upper surface; pointed tips; dark green color; leaves are rolled in the bud (rolled vernation). Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (hairy or blunt if present).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; slow recovery from wear due to bunch growth; excellent drought tolerance due to root depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eurasia and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America and temperate regions globally.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); can occasionally produce short rhizomes but lacks aggressive spreading.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours of sun; moderate water needs; highest drought tolerance among cool-season grasses; prefers well-drained soil pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended height 2.5-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft/year; low dethatching needs; frequent overseeding required to fill bare spots.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; moderate disease resistance (susceptible to Brown Patch); high salt tolerance; better shade tolerance than most sun-loving grasses.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides forage for livestock; excellent for soil stabilization on slopes; can be invasive in native prairie restoration; often contains endophytes for pest resistance.