Centipede Grass
Eremochloa ophiuroides · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Andropogoneae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common Centipede (or improved cultivars like 'TifBlair')
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 10. Excellent heat tolerance, but poor cold tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses. Goes dormant and turns straw-colored with the first frost.
About This Grass
Centipede grass is a low-maintenance, medium-textured turfgrass with a characteristic light to medium apple-green color. It forms a dense, coarse-to-medium carpet. When unmowed, it reaches heights of 3 to 5 inches, but it is typically maintained much lower. It produces slender, solitary spikelike seed heads that resemble a centipede.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium width (approx 3-5mm), flat or slightly folded, with rounded or blunt tips. Color is light green to medium yellow-green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. The collar region is continuous and narrow.
Root System
Moderately shallow fibrous root system with aggressive above-ground stolons. Forms a tight, spongy thatch layer if not managed properly. Slow to establish from seed, moderate from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to southern China and Southeast Asia, widely cultivated across the Southeastern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading via low-growing above-ground runners (stolons) that form a dense, apple-green sod at a slow to moderate rate
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, though it has decent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass). Low water needs once established, but susceptible to drought stress without adequate moisture. Prefers acidic, sandy soils (pH 5.0 to 6.0).
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintain at 1.5 to 2.0 inches mowing height. Low fertilizer requirements (often called the 'lazy man's grass', requiring only 1 to 2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually). Low overall maintenance level, sensitive to excessive nitrogen and high soil pH.
Special Characteristics
Moderate wear tolerance; poor recovery from heavy traffic due to slow growth rate. Good acid soil tolerance and moderate shade tolerance. Low fertility requirement makes it popular for low-input lawns.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in the United States. Provides basic ground cover and soil stabilization in southern landscapes, preventing erosion on sandy slopes. Minimal weed-crowding ability once established, but prone to weed invasion during dormancy or stress.