Centipede Grass
Eremochloa ophiuroides · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10. Exhibits good heat tolerance and moderate cold tolerance for a warm-season grass, turning brown and going dormant with the first hard frost.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Centipede (improved cultivars include TifBlair)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, medium-textured turf with an apple-green to light-green color. Mowed height is typically maintained at 1.5 to 2 inches, while unmowed it can reach 4 to 6 inches. Produces distinctive slender, one-sided spike-like seed heads resembling a centipede.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-width (approximately 3 to 4 mm), flat to slightly folded, with rounded or blunt tips. Color is light to medium apple-green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Collar is continuous and narrow.
Root System
Moderately shallow fibrous root system combined with creeping above-ground stolons. Forms a tight sod that is prone to heavy thatch accumulation if over-fertilized. Moderate establishment speed from seed or sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to southern China and Southeast Asia; naturalized and widely cultivated in the southeastern United States and similar subtropical climate zones.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading strictly by above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, low-growing turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily). Moderate watering needs once established; has good drought tolerance by going into dormancy during dry spells. Prefers acidic, sandy soils (pH 5.0 to 6.0).
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintain mowing height between 1.5 and 2.0 inches using a rotary mower. Low maintenance grass requiring minimal fertilization (1 to 2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year). Highly sensitive to excess nitrogen and high pH soils (suffers from iron chlorosis).
Special Characteristics
Low-input turf often referred to as the 'lazy man's grass' due to slow growth and infrequent mowing needs. Moderate wear tolerance, but poor recovery from heavy damage compared to Bermuda or Zoysia. Good tolerance to acidic soils and low fertility.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in the United States. Provides basic ground cover, soil stabilization, and erosion control in sandy coastal plains. Generally grown as a monoculture due to its allelopathic tendencies which help crowd out weeds.