Bahiagrass
Paspalum notatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture/Forage, and Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11, exceptionally tolerant of heat and humidity, goes dormant and turns brown with first hard frost.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
'Pensacola' (most common wide-spread cultivar, with narrow leaves and long seed stems)
About This Grass
Forms a somewhat coarse, open to dense turf with extensive root and runner systems. Height reaches 18 to 30 inches when allowed to flower due to its characteristic V-shaped, two-forked raceme seed heads. Color is a light to medium apple green, turning brown and going dormant during winter frosts.
Blade Characteristics
Medium to coarse width (3-6mm), flat or folded, with pointed tips. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Leaves are smooth, hairless, and tough with prominent parallel veins. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Extremely deep, tough, and fibrous root system with thick, scaly rhizomes and robust stolons. Fast establishment from seed, excellent drought avoidance via deep roots, and forms a very tough, wear-resistant sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to South America (Argentina, Brazil); widely naturalized in the southeastern United States and tropical regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Aggressive, coarse, low-growing stoloniferous and short-rhizomatous perennial forming a tough, dense sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (performs poorly in dense shade). Moderate to high drought tolerance once established due to deep roots; requires regular moisture for best appearance but survives dry spells by going semi-dormant. Thrives in sandy, acidic soils (pH 5.5-6.5).
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.0 to 3.0 inches using a sharp rotary mower due to tough seed stalks. Low fertilization requirement (2-3 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft annually). Low overall maintenance level compared to other warm-season turfgrasses.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance, excellent resistance to most major turf diseases and insects, highly tolerant of poor, sandy, and nutrient-deficient soils, exceptional erosion control on slopes and roadsides, slow recovery from severe damage compared to bermudagrass.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, valued for pasture grazing for livestock and roadside stabilization. Provides moderate wildlife cover, though its dense seed heads are consumed by birds. Can act as a persistent weed in finer manicured lawns due to its coarse texture and rapid seed stalk production.