Florida Pusley (often considered a lawn weed)
Richardia scabra · Warm-season, Perennial broadleaf plant
Grass Family
Rubiaceae (Madder family - not a true grass, but a common broadleaf lawn weed often found mixed with turf)
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass or Turf Invader
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11, highly sensitive to frost and enters dormancy or dies back in colder climates
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing mat of bright green, lance-shaped leaves with distinct parallel-looking veins, featuring small white tubular flowers
Blade Characteristics
Broad, lance-shaped opposite leaves rather than true grass blades, medium-green color, hairy margins, sessile or short-petioled
Root System
Fibrous and shallow root system with creeping stems that root easily at the nodes, forming a tightly bound mat
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical America, widely naturalized in the southeastern United States
Growth Habit
Prostrate, spreading via branching stems and roots at the nodes, forming dense low mats
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade, prefers sandy, well-drained soils, highly drought-tolerant once established
Mowing & Maintenance
Survives low mowing by hugging the ground, difficult to control without selective broadleaf herbicides, high maintenance to eradicate
Special Characteristics
Extremely resilient to foot traffic, highly competitive in sandy soils, spreads rapidly to crowd out desirable turfgrasses
Ecological Information
Introduced weed species in North America, provides minimal forage value, can be a host for certain nematodes affecting crops