Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage, Turf, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Kentucky 31 (K-31) or similar pasture-type forage fescue
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent cold and heat tolerance; semi-dormant in extreme summer heat and winter cold.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, clump-forming grass reaching 3-6 feet when unmowed. Features a deep green color in spring/fall with a tendency toward yellowish-brown leaf tips during heat stress. Seed heads are open panicles 4-12 inches long.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades 5-10mm wide; flat with prominent parallel veins on the upper surface; pointed tips; rolled vernation; short membranous ligule; small, hairy auricles; rough edges.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (up to 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; slow establishment compared to ryegrass; excellent drought tolerance for a cool-season grass.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and North Africa; naturalized throughout North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming), occasionally producing short, weak rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; high drought tolerance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5; requires 1-1.5 inches of water per week for green color in summer.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3-4 inches; mow weekly; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; low to medium maintenance; requires overseeding to fill gaps as it lacks spreading stolons.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance; moderate shade tolerance; susceptible to Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia); excellent for erosion control on slopes; often contains endophytes for insect resistance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides cover for small mammals and birds; high soil stabilization value; can be invasive in native prairie restorations; often seeded with clover in pastures.