Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), likely a modern dwarf cultivar with improved density and darker color
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for its class but may struggle in extreme northern winters compared to Kentucky Bluegrass.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass forming dense clumps. It features a deep green to dark green color, high vertical growth rate if left unmowed, and high density in modern turf varieties. Seed heads are large, open panicles with 3 to 7 branches.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (4-10mm); shape is flat; tip is pointed (not boat-shaped); color is dark green with characteristic longitudinal ribs/veins on the upper surface; vernation is rolled in the bud; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (short-hairy); margins are rough to the touch.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system, often reaching 2-3 feet deep, allowing for superior heat and drought tolerance. Slow to form thatch; establishment is moderate-to-fast from seed. Does not form a true sod due to bunching habit.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone and temperate regions of North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, though some newer cultivars have short rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours of light. High drought tolerance for a cool-season grass due to deep roots; prefers well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
High mowing height recommended at 3.0 to 4.0 inches; frequency weekly during peak growth. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually. Low to medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding to repair bare spots.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance and traffic resistance. Good resistance to brown patch and leaf spot. High drought and salt tolerance compared to most cool-season grasses. Poor ability to spread laterally means it does not fill in bare spots on its own.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes. Low wildlife value in turf form but used for forage in pasture settings; often contains endophytes that provide pest resistance but can be toxic to some livestock.