Family: Poaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue), now generally treated as a synonym of Festuca rubra, is a cool-season perennial grass native to Europe and parts of temperate Asia. It is widely used for pasture, forage, turfgrass, and erosion control due to its hardiness, tolerance of a range of soil conditions, and ability to establish dense ground cover. Tall fescue forms clumps of narrow, dark green leaves and produces upright flowering stems with seed heads that readily disperse. Its durability and adaptability have made it a popular choice in agriculture and landscaping worldwide, including in Hawaiʻi.

Risks & Threats
This species is naturalized in Hawaiʻi and possesses traits that are cause for concern, including rapid growth, high seed production, and the ability to outcompete other vegetation. Tall fescue can form dense stands that suppress native plants and alter habitat structure, potentially reducing biodiversity. It may also change soil conditions and nutrient cycling, further disadvantaging native species adapted to delicate island ecosystems. Because of these characteristics, it could detrimentally impact tropical island ecosystems. Plant Pono recommends choosing a low-risk or native alternative to help protect Hawaiʻi’s unique environments.

High Risk Traits:

• Invasive: Forms dense stands; suppresses native species
  
• Allelopathic
  
• Widely introduced for forage, turf, erosion control
  
• Hard to control: Tolerates fire, mutilation; persistent seed bank (up to 19 years)
  
• Multiple dispersal: Animals, human activity, manure
  
• Broad adaptability: Wide soil/climate tolerance
  
• Vegetative spread; flowers in first year

Low Risk Traits:

• Not toxic to humans
  
• Palatable to livestock
  
• Not shade tolerant
  
• No spines, burrs, or parasitic habit