Carpet Grass
Axonopus fissifolius · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf and Pasture Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common Carpetgrass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11, sensitive to heavy frost and enters winter dormancy with straw-colored discoloration
About This Grass
Forms a dense, apple-green to medium-green turf with flat, blunt-tipped blades, moderately coarse texture, and low profile when regularly mown
Blade Characteristics
Blades are flat, relatively broad (4 to 8 mm), with blunt or rounded tips, folded vernation in the bud, prominent midrib, and a membranous-fringed ligule
Root System
Shallow to moderately deep fibrous root system with creeping stolons, moderate thatch formation, and slow to moderate establishment speed from seed
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, well-adapted to the southeastern United States and wet, low-fertility soils
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively by above-ground runners to form a dense, coarse mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade, requires high moisture, poor drought tolerance, prefers wet, acidic, low-fertility soils
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 1.5 to 2.5 inches height, low maintenance requirement, requires minimal fertilization and tolerates neglected soil conditions
Special Characteristics
Moderate wear tolerance, excellent adaptation to wet and acidic soils where other grasses fail, good erosion control in moist environments
Ecological Information
Introduced/native range depending on the specific region in the Americas, provides good ground cover and soil stabilization in wet areas, limited wildlife food value compared to native prairie grasses