Botanical Name: Festuca arundinacea
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Common Name: Tall Fescue  
Plant photo of: Festuca arundinacea
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Ground cover, Grass

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

n/a

 

Flower Season

n/a

 

Leaf Color

Gold

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Medium, Extra in Summer

 

Growth Rate

Fast

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

Formal, Japanese, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

n/a

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Lawn

 

Special Uses

Erosion Control, Mass Planting

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

Tall fescue is a dense, clumping grass that grows well in sunny to shady areas and is often mixed with other grasses for just this quality. Tall Fescue grass was brought to the US in the early 1800’s for pasturage purposes and now grows in about 4/5 of our country, with turf type varieties used in lawns, on athletic fields, in parks and other areas where a cool season turf grass is desired. Mix with newer bluegrass varieties for a healthy, easy-maintenance, moderate water lawn.
Grows in sun to part shade. Needs well drained soils. See Guides for information on planting and maintenance. Available as seed or sod. Mow to a height of 3 to 4 inches. There are some exciting field trials taking place with both fescue and bluegrass up at USU; we'll keep you posted on their findings.