Seashore Paspalum
Paspalum vaginatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Golf Course Grass and Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Sea Isle 1
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11, highly sensitive to prolonged freezing temperatures, goes dormant in cooler winters.
About This Grass
Fine-textured turfgrass with a bright green to apple-green color, forming a dense carpet. Grows very low to the ground and spreads rapidly through aggressive above-ground stolons and underground rhizomes.
Blade Characteristics
Fine-to-medium blades (2-4mm wide), flat to folded shape, pointed to rounded tip, bright apple-green color, rolled in the bud (vernation). Membranous ligule with no auricles.
Root System
Moderate to deep fibrous root system with aggressive stolons and rhizomes. Moderate thatch-forming tendency, rapid establishment from sprigs, excellent wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, well-adapted to coastal areas
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and rhizomatous, spreading rapidly to form a dense, uniform turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred, moderate shade tolerance. High water needs during establishment but highly drought tolerant once rooted. Exceptional salt tolerance, capable of being irrigated with brackish water or seawater.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inches for lawns, can be maintained lower on golf courses. Requires regular mowing, moderate to high fertilization, and occasional dethatching/aeration.
Special Characteristics
Outstanding salt water and salinity tolerance, high traffic tolerance, excellent wear recovery, good disease and insect resistance in appropriate climates.
Ecological Information
Used extensively for coastal reclamation, erosion control, and golf courses where freshwater is scarce. Provides good ground cover and stabilizes coastal soils.