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 / TifBlair
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; poor cold tolerance; enters dormant tan phase in winter; susceptible to 'Centipede Decline' in high pH or over-fertilized soils.
About This Grass
A low-maintenance, apple-green grass that forms a thick sod. It is known as 'lazy man's grass' due to its slow vertical growth. It possesses a medium-to-coarse texture and produces single, spiked seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Medium width (3-5mm), flat shape with a blunt or rounded tip. Color is typically a light 'apple' green. Vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a short fringe of hairs; auricles are absent.
Root System
Relatively shallow fibrous root system established primarily through stolons; slow establishment but forms a dense sod that limits weed competition; low thatch producer compared to Bermuda.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Southeast Asia and China; well-adapted to the Southeastern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreading via thick, above-ground runners), forming a dense, low-growing mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred, moderate shade tolerance (better than Bermuda, less than St. Augustine); requires 4-6 hours of sun; prefers acidic soil (pH 5.0-6.0); moderate water needs with poor drought recovery if allowed to wilt fully.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height of 1.5 to 2.0 inches; low frequency; low fertilization (1-2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year); low overall maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent at crowding out weeds once established; poor wear/traffic tolerance; high salt tolerance; highly sensitive to iron deficiency (chlorosis).
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides soil stabilization in sandy acidic soils; low invasive potential in non-wetland areas; often grown as a monostand.