Bahiagrass
Paspalum notatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture/Forage, and Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 11. Excellent heat and humidity tolerance, but poor cold tolerance (susceptible to winter kill below 10°F to 15°F).
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
Pensacola (most common, fine-textured, highly persistent)
About This Grass
Coarse-textured, light green to medium green turfgrass with sparse density compared to hybrid bermudagrass or zoysia. Reaches 12-24 inches when unmowed. Noted for its distinct, V-shaped or Y-shaped seed heads featuring two (sometimes three) spike-like racemes that appear rapidly in summer and contrast sharply against the lower foliage.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat to folded, with pointed tips and a bright yellow-green to light green color. Rolled in the bud (vernation). Features a membranous ligule, no auricles, and a continuous collar region.
Root System
Extremely deep, tough, and extensive fibrous root system with thick rhizomes and stolons. Provides exceptional drought survival by accessing deep soil moisture, though it is a moderate thatch producer and establishes relatively easily from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to South America (Argentina, Brazil); widely naturalized and cultivated in the southeastern United States and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and deeply rhizomatous, forming a tough, coarse turf with a sprawling, sprawling growth habit
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires Full Sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight). Moderate to high drought tolerance due to its deep root system; goes into dormancy during severe dry spells but greens up quickly with rain. Prefers sandy, acidic soils (pH 5.5 to 6.5) but adapts well to poor, infertile soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.0 to 3.0 inches high every 5-7 days during peak growing season. Low fertilization needs (1-2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year). Requires occasional dethatching and vertical mowing. Overall maintenance level is Low to Medium.
Special Characteristics
High wear and traffic tolerance once established, good resistance to most major turf diseases and pests, excellent drought recovery, poor winter color retention (goes completely dormant and turns straw-brown with the first frost), and strong erosion control capabilities on sandy slopes.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good pasture forage for livestock and ground cover for wildlife. Highly effective at stabilizing sandy, nutrient-deficient soils and preventing erosion. Often considered a weed when invading pristine residential lawns due to its coarse texture and rapid seed head production.