Centipede Grass
Eremochloa ophiuroides · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Andropogoneae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Centipede (or improved cultivars like 'TifBlair')
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses. Goes into winter dormancy and loses color with the first heavy frost.
About This Grass
Centipede grass is a low-maintenance, medium-textured turfgrass known for its light, bright green color and slow upward vertical growth. It forms a dense sod primarily through creeping stolons. When unmowed, it reaches heights of 4 to 6 inches, but is typically maintained much lower. Seed heads are characterized by a single, spike-like raceme.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-width (approximately 2 to 4 mm), flat to slightly folded, with blunt or rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. The color is distinctive light green or yellow-green. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Features a moderately deep fibrous root system with extensive above-ground stolons. Establishes at a moderate rate, forms a dense sod, and has a moderate tendency to accumulate thatch if over-fertilized.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Southern China and Southeast Asia; naturalized and widely cultivated in the Southeastern United States and similar subtropical regions.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively above ground via stolons, forming a moderately dense, apple-green to yellowish-green mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily). Moderate watering needs once established, with fair drought tolerance by entering dormancy during extreme dry spells. Prefers acidic, sandy soils (pH 5.0 to 6.0).
Mowing & Maintenance
Low maintenance level. Ideal mowing height is 1.0 to 2.0 inches using a rotary mower. Needs infrequent fertilization (1 to 2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); high nitrogen causes decline. Infrequent dethatching and aeration as needed.
Special Characteristics
Good wear tolerance for a low-maintenance grass, excellent adaptation to poor, acidic soils. Moderate shade tolerance compared to bermudagrass. Susceptible to 'centipede decline' from over-fertilization, high pH, or improper watering.
Ecological Information
Introduced species widely used for low-input lawns and roadside erosion control in the Southeastern US. Provides low wildlife habitat value due to monoculture management, but effectively stabilizes sandy soils and requires minimal chemical inputs.