Manila Grass / Korean Lawngrass
Zoysia matrella · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Golf Course Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance and moderate cold tolerance for a warm-season grass. Goes dormant and turns brown at the first heavy frost, greening up rapidly in spring.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Manila Grass standard / finer-textured cultivars like 'Zeon'
About This Grass
Forms an extremely dense, uniform turf with a fine to medium texture. Bright green to medium green coloration during the growing season, turning straw-brown upon winter dormancy. Height ranges from 0.5 to 2 inches when maintained, but can grow up to 6-12 inches if unmowed. Produces slender, spike-like raceme seed heads at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are fine to medium in width (2-3mm), flat to slightly rolled, with pointed tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Color is vibrant green. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent. The collar is continuous and narrow.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system accompanied by extensive, tough rhizomes and stolons. Moderate to high tendency to form thatch over time. Establishes relatively slowly from seed, but quickly from sod or plugs. Provides exceptional wear recovery and drought resistance once established.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Southeast Asia, widely naturalized and cultivated in tropical, subtropical, and transition zone regions globally
Growth Habit
Aggressively stoloniferous and rhizomatous, forming a very dense, carpet-like mat and tight sod with a moderate to fast horizontal spread
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than Bermuda grass, tolerates up to 30-40% shade). High drought tolerance once rooted; needs moderate watering during dry spells. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 0.75 to 1.5 inches using a reel or sharp rotary mower. Mowing frequency is moderate to high during peak growth. Fertilization requires 2-3 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually. Dethatching and core aeration needed periodically due to dense thatch buildup. Overall maintenance level is medium.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance once established. Good disease resistance, though susceptible to large patch in wet, cool weather. High salt tolerance, good drought recovery, excellent weed suppression due to dense density, and superior shade tolerance compared to other warm-season turfgrasses.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in many non-native regions. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control due to dense root and stolon network. Low invasive tendencies compared to other aggressive grasses. Serves as a durable turf surface for residential lawns, golf course fairways, and sports fields.