Centipede Grass
Eremochloa ophiuroides · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses. Goes dormant and turns straw-colored with the first frost.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Centipede / TifBlair (known for better cold tolerance)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, apple-green to light-green turf with a medium texture. Typically grows to 1 to 3 inches when maintained. Produces slender, one-sided spike-like seed heads resembling a centipede.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-coarse (approx. 3-5mm wide), flat, with pointed or slightly rounded tips and distinctive hairy margins near the base. Rolled in the bud (vernation). Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system combined with aggressive stolons. Forms a moderate thatch layer if over-fertilized. Slow to moderate establishment speed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to southern China and Southeast Asia, widely cultivated across the Southeastern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading via thick above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, low-maintenance turf.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight). Low water needs once established, moderate drought tolerance with dormancy during extended dry spells. Prefers acidic, sandy soils (pH 5.0-6.0).
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 1.0 to 2.0 inches high every 7-14 days. Low maintenance; requires minimal nitrogen fertilizer (1-2 lbs per 1000 sq ft annually) and dislikes high phosphorus or lime.
Special Characteristics
Low traffic/wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia. Susceptible to iron chlorosis in high pH soils. Good shade tolerance for a warm-season grass. Excellent at crowding out weeds once established.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides minimal wildlife food value compared to native prairie grasses, but offers good soil erosion control in sandy coastal plain regions. Often grown alone as a monoculture due to low fertilizer requirements.