Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture/Forage, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky 31 (K-31) or similar forage-type fescue
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; has high heat tolerance for cool-season species and stays green throughout most winters in transition zones.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, deep-rooted grass that forms dense, upright clumps. It maintains a medium to dark green color in cool weather but can become patchy if not overseeded, as it does not spread laterally.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (5-10mm), flat shape with a distinctly pointed tip. Color is typically emerald to dark green. Features rolled vernation in the bud, prominent longitudinal ribs on the upper surface, a short membranous ligule, and small or absent auricles.
Root System
Extremely deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; slow establishment compared to ryegrass but provides excellent drought resistance once mature.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America, especially the Transition Zone
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons; expands via tillering
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours of sun. High drought tolerance for a cool-season grass; prefers well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height of 3.0 to 4.0 inches. Mowing frequency is moderate. Requires 2-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually. Low to medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance and high traffic resistance. High resistance to summer patch and dollar spot. Good salt tolerance and moderate shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced in North America; used heavily for soil stabilization on slopes; provides forage for livestock though some varieties contain endophytes; can be invasive in native prairie restoration sites.