Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season perennial, C3 pathway, primary transition zone grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); specific cultivar unknown but displays typical darker green and finer leaf width than 'K-31'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7 (best performance in Transition Zone); high heat tolerance for a C3 grass; good cold hardiness; semi-dormant in extreme summer heat or winter cold.
About This Grass
A robust, deep-rooted cool-season grass with a dense bunching habit. It maintains a dark green color longer into the summer than most cool-season grasses and forms a coarse to medium-textured turf.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 3-10mm (medium-coarse); prominent longitudinal veins on upper surface; smooth glossy underside; pointed tips; rolled vernation; short membranous ligule; auricles absent or very small/non-clasping; slightly serrated margins.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (reaching up to 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed; excellent drought resistance due to root depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the United States Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clumping), limited short rhizomes possible in modern cultivars; slow lateral spread
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (moderate shade tolerance); requires 4-6 hours sun; moderate water needs; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Height: 3.0-4.0 inches; frequency: weekly during peak growth; 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year; requires annual overseeding to fill in thinned clumps; Medium maintenance.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance once established; high drought tolerance; resistant to many common turf diseases although susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity; good salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization via deep roots; lower wildlife value in turf form; often blended with 5-10% Kentucky Bluegrass for better sod-forming ability; may be invasive in native meadow ecosystems.