Festuca arundinacea

Sunset

Zones 1-24, 31-45

Full, Partial

Moderate

Tall Fescue
Poaceae (Gramineae)
Turf Grasses

FESTUCA

Some of these grasses are ornamental; others are used for lawns, erosion control, or pasture. All need good drainage, can withstand dry conditions and severe frosts. Clumps can be divided in fall.

Festuca arundinacea

Clumping, tall-growing pasture grass (to 4 ft.) whose finer-leafed selections are used for moderately low-water-use lawns. Tough blades, tolerance of compacted soils make it a good turf for playing or sports; finer-textured strains are used alone or mixed with bluegrass. Check locally for best-adapted varieties. Forms no runners, so plants must be close together to make dense turf; sown 8 to 10 lbs. of seed per 1,000 sq. ft. Sow in fall in mild-winter areas, in spring in colder part of range.