It now occurs throughout Missouri, with tall fescue being the more common of these two pasture grasses in Missouri. It can tolerate a wide range of moisture conditions and is common along some levees where it is often planted, and stream banks. Where it occurs in natural communities, it has often been spread by horses and cattle through manure. These hardy perennials were introduced from Europe and are commonly sown for pasture and hay. They do well on poor acid soils and often are found where there is little competition from other species.
Fescue grows best in open sunlight and spreads primarily by seed to form dense solid stands.
The heavy clumps have thick mats of roots that make it almost impossible to pull them out of the ground. Fescue emerges early in spring and often forms new growth in the fall after the seed matures in July and August. In southern Missouri, the leaves usually stay green all winter. These grasses are slow to become established, but once the heavy clumps are formed, they are difficult to eradicate. As the density of fescue increases at a site, species diversity decreases, partly due to allelopathic substances.