Carpetgrass
Axonopus fissifolius · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Excellent heat and humidity tolerance, but very poor cold tolerance, turning brown and going dormant with the first heavy frost.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paspaleae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Carpetgrass
About This Grass
Forms a dense, bright to light green, coarse-textured turf. Grows low to the ground and spreads rapidly via flat, creeping stolons that root at the nodes. Unmowed heights can reach 6 to 12 inches, but it maintains a low profile when regularly mowed. Seed heads consist of two to three spike-like racemes forming a crabgrass-like Y-shape.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium to coarse in width (4-8 mm), flat, with blunt, rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Color is light to medium yellow-green. Ligule is a very short membrane fringed with tiny hairs, auricles are absent, and the collar region is continuous and smooth.
Root System
Moderately shallow fibrous root system augmented by rooting stolons at the nodes. Establishes quickly from seed or sod on suitable moist soils. Tends to form a spongy thatch layer over time if left unmanaged.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf Coast and southeastern United States, Central America, and South America; well-adapted to moist, acidic soils in the southeastern U.S.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and rhizomatous, spreading aggressively by above-ground stolons to form a dense, coarse mat or sod.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade; remarkably tolerant of damp, wet, and poorly drained soils where other lawn grasses fail. Moderate to high water requirement; has poor drought tolerance and goes dormant or dies back during dry periods.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Low maintenance requirements overall; requires infrequent fertilization (1 to 2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year) and tolerates low fertility soils well. Needs occasional dethatching due to rapid stolon growth.
Special Characteristics
Low wear and traffic tolerance, making it unsuitable for sports fields or heavy-use areas. Good tolerance for acidic, low-fertility, and wet soils where other turfgrasses struggle. Excellent erosion control on damp slopes and ditches. Fairly resistant to major turf diseases.
Ecological Information
Native species in the southeastern United States. Provides good ground cover and soil stabilization in wet habitats. Can act as a native colonizer in disturbed moist areas and ditches, though sometimes considered a weed in finely manicured lawns due to its light green color and coarse texture.