Eastern Forest Threat Center - Tall Fescue

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Tall fescue

Tall fescue

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Tall Fescue
Lolium arundinaceum

Tall fescue, native to Europe, was introduced into the U.S. in the early to mid-1800s for turf, forage, soil stabilization, and wildlife food plots.

Keywords: Poaceae, perennial, cool-season grass, swollen nodes, flower clusters, seed stalks, husked grain, rhizomes, dense stands; Common names: tall rye grass

Distribution Map Distribution Source Image

Threat Description

Tall fescue is an erect, tufted cool-season perennial grass 2 to 4 ft. in height. Stems are moderately stout, unbranched, and hairless with a round cross section and 1 to 3 swollen light-green nodes widely spaced near the base. Flat, long lanceolate leaves are 4 to 18 in. long and up to 0.3 in. wide. Dark green leaves appear in late winter, followed by flowering in spring. Greenish white flowers become purplish and form spindle-shaped clusters. Tall fescue is semidormant during the heat of summer, with whitish seed stalks persisting. Seeds are husked grain, spindle-shaped, and 0.1 to 0.2 in. long. Growth resumes in fall and continuing into early winter. Tall fescue reproduces by seed and spreads vegetatively through rhizomes, forming dense, solid stands. It is adapted to a wide range of conditions, but grows best on deep, fertile, medium to heavy texture soils with open sunlight and a balanced supply of moisture. It invades a variety of habitats including fields, forest margins, roadsides, ditches, railroad tracks, forest openings, grasslands, savannas and moist, disturbed places. It is a persistent perennial that can compete strongly with and displace many native species.