Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea (syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus) · Cool-season, C3, Perennial
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) - generic variety visible
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-7; excellent heat tolerance for its type; good cold tolerance; goes dormant in extreme cold or prolonged drought.
About This Grass
A coarse to medium-textured grass with a deep green color. It maintains a dense, upright clump-like growth habit and is known for its durability and staying green longer into the summer than other cool-season grasses.
Blade Characteristics
4-10mm width (medium to coarse); flat shape; sharply pointed tips; dark green color; rolled vernation in the bud; prominent veins on the upper surface with a smooth, glossy underside. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are small or absent.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system (often reaching 2-3 feet); low thatch tendency; moderate establishment speed from seed; excellent wear recovery due to crown density.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and North Africa; naturalized throughout North America and temperate regions worldwide.
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming), occasionally producing short, weak rhizomes.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (moderate shade tolerance); requires moderate watering but has high drought tolerance for a cool-season grass; prefers soil pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
2.0-4.0 inches height; frequency every 5-7 days; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; low to medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic/wear tolerance; good resistance to Brown Patch and Leaf Spot; high salt tolerance; deep roots provide superior drought avoidance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species; provides ground cover for small mammals; excellent for stabilizing slopes and preventing erosion; widely used in lawn seed mixes with Kentucky Bluegrass.