Centipede Grass
Eremochloa ophiuroides · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Andropogoneae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common Centipede (improved cultivars include 'TifBlair')
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (susceptible to winter kill below 5°F), popular throughout the American South and Transition Zone.
About This Grass
A low-maintenance warm-season turfgrass with a bright apple-green to light green color. It has a medium-coarse texture and grows quite slowly compared to other warm-season grasses. Forms a dense, apple-green carpet that turns brown with the first heavy frost.
Blade Characteristics
Medium width (approximately 3-5mm), flat blades with rounded to pointed tips. Rolled vernation in the bud, prominent midrib, smooth texture, with a fringe of hairs taking the place of a membranous ligule.
Root System
Moderately shallow root system with active stolons. Forms a tight sod, low thatch tendency, slow to moderate establishment speed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to southern China and Southeast Asia; widely naturalized and cultivated in the Southeastern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreading aggressively via above-ground runners), forms a dense, coarse mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight); moderate to low water needs once established; good drought tolerance by entering dormancy during dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 1.0 to 2.0 inches high every 7-14 days. Low fertilization requirement (0.5 to 2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually). Extremely low maintenance, often called the 'lazy man's grass.'
Special Characteristics
Good wear tolerance for residential use, sensitive to high phosphorus and excessive nitrogen (prone to iron chlorosis), moderate salt tolerance, poor shade tolerance compared to St. Augustine, excellent adaptation to acidic, sandy soils.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides basic ground cover and erosion control on poor, acidic soils. Very low invasive tendencies outside cultivated lawns, but can crowd out weeds when managed properly.