Plant DetailShow Menu

Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cynodon Tifway Bermuda Lawn
Persicaria perfoliata Stem and Leaves
Phragmites australis Form showing height
Lolium arundinaceum has some common insect problems:
Wireworms in Turf
Green June Beetles in Turfgrass
Lolium arundinaceum has some common disease problems:
Gray Snow Mold in Turf

Tall Fescue Lolium arundinaceum

Previously known as:

  • Festuca arundinacea Schreb.
  • Schedonorus arundinaceus
Phonetic Spelling
LOW-lee-um ah-run-di-NAY-see-um
Description

Tall Fescue as a Lawn

Tall fescue is native to Eurasia and North Africa. It is the most widely grown cool-season turfgrass in North Carolina. It is tolerant to heat and drought, disease resistant, and persists with minimum care. It has a bunch-type growth habit and tends to clump so may need to be re-seeded each year in areas where it struggles.

While similar to Kentucky bluegrass, annual ryegrass, and perennial ryegrass, tall fescue has rolled vernation in the leaf bud and rough leaf blade margins. Like perennial ryegrass, tall fescue has non-clasping auricles. The backside of the tall fescue leaf blade is less glossy than that of ryegrasses. Tall fescue is sometime grown in mixtures with Kentucky bluegrass.

As with other turfgrasses, tall fescues is difficult to manage as a weed within another turfgrass. It can be selectively removed from some warm-season turfgrasses. Select an adapted turfgrass species and cultivar, and use proper mowing and fertilization techniques to maintain a dense, actively growing, desired turf. Digging or removal by hand is one way to control undesired perennial turfgrasses. You may spot treat an infested area with an appropriate non-selective herbicide, but realize it will also kill the desired turfgrass.

For more information, please refer to the NC State Extension TurfFiles entry for Tall fescue.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#high maintenance#fast growing#turfgrass#lawn planting#weed#lawns
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#high maintenance#fast growing#turfgrass#lawn planting#weed#lawns
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lolium
    Species:
    arundinaceum
    Family:
    Poaceae
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Turfgrass
    Weed
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Linear blades are thick and wide with prominent veins running parallel along the entire length of the blade. The margins are toothed. The underside of the leaf may be shiny. Emerging leaves are rolled in the bud which is unusual for grasses.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn