Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
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 cultivar such as 'Rebel' or 'Falcon' series
Hardiness Zones
USDA 4-9; excellent heat tolerance for a cool-season grass; well-suited for the 'Transition Zone' where other grasses fail.
About This Grass
A dense, upright-growing grass with a deep green color. Maintained at 2-4 inches, it forms a thick canopy. Unmowed, it can reach 3-4 feet with nodding panicle seed heads. Texture is medium to coarse compared to bluegrasses.
Blade Characteristics
Medium to coarse blades (4-8mm wide), flat, prominently veined on the upper surface with a dull underside. Tips are pointed (not boat-shaped). Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent (short hairs may be present on the collar).
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet or more), allowing for excellent drought resistance. Low thatch tendency; slow recovery from bare spots due to lack of spreading rhizomes.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia; widely naturalized across North America and temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); very limited short rhizomes may be present in certain modern cultivars
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (more shade tolerant than most cool-season grasses). Needs 4-6 hours of sun. Moderate water needs, though highly drought tolerant once established due to deep roots. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height: 3.0-4.0 inches. Frequency: weekly during peak growth. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft annually. Low to medium maintenance; requires periodic overseeding to fill in bare patches as it does not spread.
Special Characteristics
High wear/traffic tolerance once established. Good resistance to leaf spot and dollar spot, though susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia) in hot, humid weather. Higher salt tolerance than many cool-season grasses.
Ecological Information
Introduced in North America; used heavily for soil stabilization on slopes and highway embankments. Provides cover for small mammals; some varieties contain endophytes (beneficial fungi) that deter insect herbivory. Can be invasive in native meadows.