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 / 'TifBlair' (likely common variety based on visual texture)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10. Poor cold tolerance; enters dormant brown state after first hard frost. Thrives in high heat and humidity.
About This Grass
A low-growing, medium-textured turf grass known for its light apple-green color. It forms a thick sod that naturally stays low. If unmowed, it reaches 4-6 inches. Known for its 'lazy' growth pattern, it requires less mowing than other warm-season grasses.
Blade Characteristics
Medium width (3-5mm), flat blades with a blunt or slightly rounded tip. Color is distinctive apple-green or lime-green. Rolled vernation in the bud. Short, membranous ligule with hairs. No auricles. Constricted collar region.
Root System
Relatively shallow fibrous root system established primarily through stolons. Slow establishment speed. Low thatch producer compared to Bermuda, but sensitive to extreme drought due to shallow roots.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to China and Southeast Asia; adapted to more humid, acidic soils of the Southeastern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads by thick, creeping above-ground runners), forms a dense but slow-growing mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred (at least 6 hours); moderate shade tolerance (better than Bermuda, less than St. Augustine). Moderate water needs; prefers acidic soils (pH 4.5-6.0). Highly sensitive to iron deficiency in alkaline soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
1.5 to 2.0 inches height. Low maintenance; requires infrequent mowing and low fertilization (1-2 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year). Over-fertilization can cause 'Centipede decline'.
Special Characteristics
Known as 'The Lazy Man's Grass' due to low maintenance. High heat tolerance, good salt tolerance, and naturally crowds out many weeds once established. Very sensitive to certain herbicides and high phosphorus levels.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides soil stabilization and good erosion control on slopes. Low wildlife value for forage, but provides cover for small insects/arthropods. Often grown alone rather than in mixes.