Kikuyu Grass
Pennisetum clandestinum (syn. Cenchrus clandestinus) · Warm-season perennial, C4 metabolism
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture/Forage, Invasive/Weed Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Kikuyu (likely a wild-type or naturalized variety)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 9-11; very heat tolerant; poor cold tolerance (turns brown/dormant at first frost and can be killed by hard freezes below 20°F).
About This Grass
A vigorous, coarse-textured grass with a bright yellowish-green to lime-green color. It forms a dense, high-biomass sod that can easily outcompete other species. When unmowed, it can reach 10-18 inches; when maintained, it creates a thick, resilient turf. Seed heads are unusual, often hidden within the leaf sheaths (clandestine), with only long white filaments (stigmata) visible during flowering.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (4-5mm), flat or slightly folded, with a blunt to pointed tip. Bright green color with prominent midveins; vernation is folded; ligule is a fringe of hairs; auricles are absent. The leaf surface and sheaths often exhibit fine hairs.
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system combined with thick, fleshy rhizomes and stolons. High thatch-forming tendency; very fast establishment speed; excellent wear recovery but difficult to eradicate once established.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to East African Highlands; naturalized in Australia, California, Hawaii, South Africa, and the Mediterranean
Growth Habit
Highly aggressive; strongly rhizomatous (underground) and stoloniferous (above ground), forming a very thick, spongy mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred (at least 6 hours); high drought tolerance once established but grows most vigorously with regular water. Prefers slightly acidic to neutral soils (pH 5.5-7.0). Poor shade tolerance.
Mowing & Maintenance
1.0 to 2.0 inches height. Requires frequent mowing due to rapid growth; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft/year. High maintenance due to invasive speed and heavy thatch buildup requiring regular scarification.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic and wear tolerance; high salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance. Highly effective at crowding out weeds but often becomes a weed itself in ornamental gardens or other turf types. Extremely high recovery rate from damage.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Invasive in many regions outside Africa; listed as a federal noxious weed in some US states. High soil stabilization value for erosion-prone slopes. In pastures, it is a high-quality forage but can cause oxalate poisoning in livestock if over-managed.