Tall Fescue | Nebraska Invasive Species Council

Credit: © Barbara L. Wilson, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

General Information

Species Name: Festuca arundinacea

Also Known As: Alta fescue, reed fescue, coarse fescue

Family: Poaceae (Grass)

Growth Form: Grass

Life Span: Perennial

Origin: Europe

Noxious: No

Why Is It Invasive?

Tall fescue quickly reproduces quickly and will quickly form dense, uniform stands that prohibit the growth of other native species and reduce biodiversity. Additionally, tall fescue releases chemicals into the soil that prevent the growth of other plants in the surrounding area. It is becoming a more common choice for lawns and pasture grass despite its only fair forage quality and invasive qualities due to its drought tolerance and ability to succeed in various soil types and sun exposures.

What Does It Look Like?

Tall fescue can grow up to 4 feet high but is often kept shorter for use in lawns.

Seedheads

Seedheads are branched and spikelets have a sharply pointed tip. They are green to yellow in color.

Leaves

Leaves are slightly ridged, have no hairs, and have a pointed tip. They are flat or folded, stiff, and broader than other similar grasses. They may partially encircle the stem at the base.

Stem

Upright and ascending

Photos

A single stem of tall fescue with seed heads in a blurred grassy background.

Credit: Ohio State Weed Lab , The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org

A close-up of a tall fescue blade with a blurred natural background.

Credit: Ohio State Weed Lab , The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org

Green tall fescue stem with long, narrow leaves against a dark soil background.

Credit: Ohio State Weed Lab , The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org

Green leaves surrounded by small white flowers and a tree trunk.

Credit: Rebekah D. Wallace, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Tall fescue with thin seed heads growing in a natural outdoor setting.

Credit: James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org

Tall fescue growing in a dry grassy field under a clear blue sky.

Credit: John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org

Tall fescue growing in a natural field setting.

Credit: John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org

A man standing in a field of tall fescue with trees in the background.

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

Where Does It Grow?

Tall fescue can be found in pastures, roadsides, grasslands, and grazed woods. It is tolerant of acidic soils, sunlight and shade, and drought. It is also used for turf in managed urban environments. It is widespread across North America.

How Does It Spread?

Tall fescue was brought to the United States in the late 1800s to be used for forage. It spreads through seed and creeping roots. While it may be slow to establish, it is difficult to eradicate once present. Seed can be spread through natural and human vectors, including livestock and livestock transport.

How Do I Control It?

Mechanical

Small infestations can be dug out with a shovel. Ensure the entire crown and a few inches of the roots are removed and then establish a competitive plant or grass population to prevent reestablishment.

Please contact your county weed control authority to determine appropriate removal methods.

Cultural

Use only certified, weed-free hay and select other grasses for ornamental and pasture purposes. Permitting grazing on established areas of tall fescue can help control populations, but it is generally only fair forage and can sometimes cause lameness.

One way that invasive plant seeds and fragments can spread is in soil. Sometimes plants are planted purposefully. You can prevent the spread of invasive plants.

PlayCleanGo: Stop Invasive Species in Your Tracks