Tropical Signalgrass
Urochloa platyphylla · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass, Pasture, Lawn Weed
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type / Uncultivated weed species
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11, sensitive to frost, enters winter dormancy in cooler ranges.
About This Grass
Forms a low-growing, dense, mat-like canopy of bright to medium green leaves with prominent stems and spreading stolons. Unmowed height reaches 6 to 18 inches, but it typically forms a sprawling turf under regular mowing. Seed heads feature multiple racemes.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, width 5-10mm, flat, smooth to slightly hairy, pointed tips, rolled in the bud, membranous-hairy ligule, prominent central vein.
Root System
Shallow to moderate fibrous root system with extensive stolons rooting at the nodes, quick establishment, high competitive ability.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical America, naturalized globally in warm regions
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and rhizomatous, spreading aggressively above ground with rooting at the nodes
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade, high water requirements, thrives in moist to wet soils, moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 1.5 to 3 inches, high maintenance if managed as turf due to rapid horizontal spread, often treated as a weed in lawns.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance in warm climates, good drought recovery, often acts as a weed in southern turfgrasses, highly competitive in moist environments.
Ecological Information
Introduced weed in many regions, provides minor forage value for livestock, provides ground cover and erosion control, can become invasive in cultivated fields and managed lawns.