Common Carpetgrass
Axonopus fissifolius · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paspaleae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Native unselected wild type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10, preferring warm, humid climates with abundant moisture. Has low cold tolerance and goes dormant with winter frost, turning straw-colored.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, light-to-medium green turf with creeping stolons that root at the nodes. Height ranges from 2 to 6 inches depending on mowing. Features distinctive flattened seed stalks bearing two to four slender, one-sided spike-like racemes that resemble a crabgrass head.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are flat to folded, medium width (3-6mm), with blunt or rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. The ligule is a short, membranous fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. Margins near the base may have sparse hairs.
Root System
Shallow to moderate fibrous root system with extensive above-ground stolons. Forms a tight sod quickly on wet, acidic soils, but has poor deep-drought tolerance due to shallower roots.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Southeastern United States, Central America, and South America; well-adapted to the coastal plain and moist regions of the US Gulf and South Atlantic coasts.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading vigorously via above-ground stolons to form a dense, coarse mat or sod.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade. Has high water requirements and prefers wet, poorly drained, or moisture-retentive soils where other grasses fail. Tolerates acidic soils with low fertility very well.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 1.5 to 2.5 inches regularly during the growing season. Low to medium maintenance; does not require heavy fertilization and can tolerate neglect in wet areas. Suffers if over-fertilized with nitrogen.
Special Characteristics
Excellent tolerance for acidic, wet, and infertile soils. Moderate to low wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia. Good erosion control on moist slopes. Susceptible to frost damage and drought stress without adequate moisture.
Ecological Information
Introduced/native depending on exact southeastern range; provides ground cover and erosion control in wet, acidic flatwoods and ditches; offers minor forage value for livestock under extensive grazing.