Manila Grass / Korean Lawngrass
Zoysia matrella · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass and High-End Ornamental Turf
Variety / Cultivar
General Zoysia matrella / Temple Grass type with fine-textured, needle-like growth
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 11; excellent heat tolerance, moderate cold tolerance entering early winter dormancy below 50 degrees Fahrenheit; performs very well in the transition zone
About This Grass
Forms a very dense, tight, fine-textured turf with bright to dark green color, turning brown and going dormant during winter frost; notable for its stiff, wiry, needle-like leaves and slow vertical growth but aggressive lateral spread
Blade Characteristics
Fine-textured blades typically 1.5 to 3mm wide, flat to slightly rolled, with pointed tips, prominent midvein, light green to medium blue-green color, folded vernation in bud, membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, and narrow collar region
Root System
Deep, fibrous, and extensive root system with strong rhizomes and stolons; moderate to high thatch-forming tendency under high fertility; establishes relatively slowly from seed but spreads moderately fast from sod or plugs
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Southeast Asia, northern Australasia, and parts of India; widely cultivated in tropical, subtropical, and transition zone regions globally
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and rhizomatous, spreading aggressively via both above-ground stolons and below-ground rhizomes to form an extremely dense, carpet-like mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun, tolerates light partial shade better than Bermuda grass; requires moderate watering once established, exhibits good drought tolerance by going into dormancy during extended dry spells; prefers well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 0.5 to 1.5 inches using a reel or sharp rotary mower; requires frequent mowing during peak growing season; moderate fertilizer needs (2-3 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); high thatch management required with periodic dethatching and core aeration
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance once established; forms a dense turf that naturally crowds out weeds; good salt tolerance; moderate to good disease resistance, though susceptible to large patch in wet, humid conditions; excellent erosion control
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides low wildlife food value due to tough leaf texture; excellent for soil stabilization and preventing runoff due to dense root mat; widely used in residential lawns, golf course fairways, and tees