| tall fescue | USDA PLANTS Symbol: SCPH U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Grass or Grasslike |
| Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub |
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Taxonomic Rank: Liliopsida: Cyperales: Poaceae |
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| Native Range: Not Found (BAIL); | |
Tall fescue, also called Kentucky 31 fescue, is a rhizomatus, cool season grass that invades open areas throughout the United States. This tall grass (up to 6 ft. [1.8 m]) remains green in winter and spring. The moderately stout stem is unbranched with 1-3 swollen, light green nodes near the base. Leaves are mostly basal, flat, 4 to 18 in. (10.2-45.7 cm) long with whitish to yellow-green, flared collars. The midvein is not noticeable. Flowers occur in loose panicles that are 4-12 in. (10.2-30.5 cm) long. Tall fescue invades a variety of open habitats including fields, forest margins, roadsides, forest openings and savannas. It spreads mainly through rhizomes and can form extensive colonies that compete with and displace native vegetation. It is frequently infected with a endophytic fungus that can causes illness in livestock and some wild animals. Tall fescue is native to Europe and was first introduced into the United States in the early to mid 1800s. The ecotype, Kentucky 31, was discovered in the 1930s and widely planted for livestock forage. Tall fescue has been widely planted for turf, forage and erosion control. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Plant(s); January James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); April Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); July James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); May Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Root(s); Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Root(s); Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); May Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); May James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Ken Chamberlain, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org |
 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. |
| Native Alternatives: | |
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Andropogon ternarius (splitbeard bluestem) Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint) Calamovilfa longifolia (prairie sandreed) Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) Tridens flavus (purpletop tridens) |  More Information on Native Plants at: www.beplantwise.org PlantWise is a partnership between the National Park Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The Garden Club of America and The National Invasive Species Council to prevent harmful invasive plants from invading natural areas. |
