Centipede Grass
Eremochloa ophiuroides · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Andropogoneae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Centipede (Standard variety widely used in TruGreen programs for low-maintenance lawns)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10. Poor cold tolerance; enters dormant brown state during winter and can be damaged by hard freezes or rapid temp changes in early spring.
About This Grass
A low-maintenance, apple-green lawn grass that naturally stays short. It has a coarse texture but forms a very thick sod that crowds out most weeds. Its seed head is a single, slender, spike-like raceme that appears in late summer.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-to-coarse (approx. 3-5mm wide), short, and blunt with a rounded or boat-shaped tip. Color is typically a light, yellowish 'apple' green. Vernation is folded in the bud; the ligule is a short fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Relatively shallow fibrous root system established via stolons. It has slow-to-moderate establishment speed but forms a dense sod with low thatch accumulation compared to Bermuda grass.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Southeast Asia and China; commonly cultivated in the Southeastern United States and Gulf Coast regions
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads horizontally via aggressive surface runners), forming a dense, low-growing mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers Full Sun but has moderate shade tolerance (needs 4-6 hours). Low-to-moderate water needs; prefers acidic soils (pH 5.0-6.0) and is sensitive to iron deficiency and alkaline soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 1.5 to 2.0 inches. Low maintenance; requires minimal fertilizer (only 1-2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year). Excessive nitrogen can cause 'Centipede decline.' Low frequency mowing required.
Special Characteristics
Excellent weed suppression due to dense matting; low maintenance requirements; susceptible to Centipede Grass Mosaic Virus and Large Patch (Rhizoctonia); poor salt tolerance; excellent heat tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides soil stabilization for sandy acidic soils; non-invasive in most ecosystems but very persistent once established; low wildlife value due to low seed production.