Carpetgrass
Axonopus fissifolius · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paspaleae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture/Forage, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Carpetgrass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. Excellent heat tolerance, very poor cold tolerance, turns brown and enters dormancy with the first heavy frost.
About This Grass
Forms a coarse, light to medium green, apple-green turf with a low-growing habit. Leaves are somewhat blunt-tipped and folded in the bud. Produces slender, delicate seed stalks bearing two to three spike-like racemes resembling a crab claw or small fingers.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture (typically 4-8 mm wide), flat or folded, with blunt or rounded tips. Vernation is folded. Ligule is a very short membrane fringed with hairs. Auricles are absent. Smooth margins with prominent midveins.
Root System
Shallow to moderate fibrous root system arising from stolon nodes. Forms a moderately dense sod, establishes easily from seed, and thrives in wet, acidic soils with a tendency to build up moderate thatch.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, well-adapted to the southeastern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively by robust, flat above-ground stolons to form a dense mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun to partial shade. Has very high water requirements and thrives in wet, poorly drained, or waterlogged soils where other grasses fail. Poor drought tolerance; goes dormant or dies back during dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height range of 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Requires frequent mowing during the growing season due to rapid vertical seed head production. Low fertilization needs (1-2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually). Low overall maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Moderate wear tolerance, excellent tolerance for acidic (low pH) and wet, waterlogged soils where turf quality declines for other grasses. Poor shade tolerance despite handling damp areas well. Good for erosion control in moist ditches.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in various regions; provides fair forage for livestock in low-fertility wet pastures, offers low-input ground cover, and can act as a weed in higher-maintenance lawns.