Tropical Carpetgrass
Axonopus compressus · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paspaleae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common / Wild Type; occasionally 'Broadleaf' selection
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 9a-11; very poor cold tolerance; turns brown or goes dormant below 40°F (4°C); prone to winter kill in freezing temperatures.
About This Grass
A low-growing, coarse-textured perennial that forms a thick sod. It is characterized by its light to medium green color and wide, shiny leaves. When unmowed, it produces slender, upright seed heads on tall stalks reaching 6-12 inches. It maintains a dense carpet-like appearance in moist, shaded environments where other grasses struggle.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (4-10mm); flat or folded shape with a rounded or blunt tip (often likened to a wide boat tip); medium green color; folded vernation; ligule is a short fringe of hairs; auricles are absent; collar is narrow and hairy at the edges.
Root System
Shallow fibrous root system arising from stolon nodes; low thatch tendency; quick establishment from stolons in wet soil; poor drought recovery due to shallow nature.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Central America, West Indies, and South America; naturalized in USDA zones 9-11 and tropical regions worldwide.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous; spreads via vigorous creeping above-ground runners to form a dense, low-growing mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers partial shade but tolerates full sun; needs high moisture and frequent watering; low drought tolerance; thrives in acidic, poorly drained, sandy or mucky soils (pH 4.5-6.0).
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 1.0-2.0 inches; requires frequent mowing to remove tall, unsightly seed heads; low fertilization (1-2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft/year); low maintenance if moisture is constant.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses; moderate wear tolerance; high salt tolerance; resistant to many turf diseases but susceptible to Brown Patch in high humidity.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in the Southern US; provides soil stabilization in wet, shaded areas to prevent erosion; used as a low-input forage in tropical pastures; can be considered an invasive weed in well-maintained Bermuda or Zoysia turf.