Bahia Grass
Paspalum notatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paspaleae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bahia (likely 'Pensacola' based on blade width and widespread use in pastures and lawns)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11; excellent heat tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown after the first hard frost.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass that forms a tough, open sod. It is notably light to medium green and produces distinctive 'Y-shaped' two-fingered raceme seed heads when left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (4-8mm), flat to slightly folded, taper to a sharp point. Vernation is rolled; ligule is a short membrane with hairs; auricles are absent. The leaf base often shows a purplish or reddish tint.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous root system with thick, woody rhizomes. It is slow to establish but creates a very stable sod with low thatch accumulation.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to South America (Brazil); widely naturalized in the Southeastern United States and Gulf Coast regions
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous (spreading by short, stout, woody rhizomes) and Stoloniferous (surface runners)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires at least 6-8 hours); high drought tolerance due to deep roots; performs best in sandy, acidic soils (pH 5.5-6.5).
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 3-4 inches; frequency is high during summer due to fast-growing seed stalks; low fertilization needs (1-2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year); Low maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance; highly resistant to most diseases and insects; poor shade tolerance; exceptional ability to grow in poor, sandy soils where other grasses fail.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; provides valuable forage for cattle; excellent for soil stabilization on roadsides; can become invasive in manicured ornamental landscapes due to tough rhizomes.