Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF); variety unknown but exhibiting improved leaf fineness compared to Kentucky-31
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; has high heat tolerance for cool-season grass and good cold hardiness; stays green longer into winter than warm-season grasses.
About This Grass
Medium to coarse texture, dark green color, forms dense clumps. When unmowed it can reach 3-4 feet; maintained turf is dense with vertical growth and visible longitudinal ribbing on blades.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (4-10mm), flat shape, pointed tip with sharp edges, dark green color, rolled vernation in the bud, prominent ridges on the upper surface, no auricles, short membranous ligule.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often 2-3 feet deep), low thatch tendency, moderate establishment speed from seed, excellent wear recovery via individual plant tilling.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; widely adapted to the Transition Zone and temperate regions of North America
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clumping); lacks significant rhizomes or stolons, though some newer cultivars have short rhizomes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; requires 4-6 hours minimum sun. Exceptional drought tolerance for a cool-season grass due to deep roots; prefers well-drained soil pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 3.0-4.0 inches; mow weekly. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year. Low to medium maintenance; requires overseeding to repair bare spots due to bunch habit.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance, high shade tolerance relative to other cool-season grasses, resistant to brown patch (though susceptible in high heat/humidity), salt sensitive.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides soil stabilization for slopes; often contains endophytes (beneficial fungi) that deter surface-feeding insects; commonly mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass.