Tropical Carpetgrass
Axonopus compressus · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paspaleae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Broad-leaf Carpetgrass (typically ecotypes rather than named cultivars)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 9-11. Very poor cold tolerance; will be killed by hard freezes. Does not possess a deep dormancy mechanism like Zoysia or Bermuda.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with wide, blunt leaves. It forms a thick carpet that crowds out other plants. It is light to medium green and stays green year-round in frost-free tropical climates, but turns brown with the first frost. Seed heads are slender, two-pronged racemes on long stalks.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (4-12mm), flat blades with a characteristic crinkled or wavy margin. Tips are rounded/blunt. Vernation is folded. Ligule is a fringe of short hairs (~0.5mm). Auricles are absent. The leaf sheath is strongly compressed (flattened).
Root System
Fibrous and relatively shallow; primarily established through stolons. Fast establishment in moist conditions. Low thatch producer compared to Bermuda grass.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Central and South America, Caribbean; widely naturalized in tropical Africa, Asia, and humid SE US
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via above-ground runners), forming a dense, low-growing mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial sun to full sun; highly shade tolerant for a warm-season grass. High water needs; prefers moist to wet soils. Poor drought tolerance; will wilt quickly in dry conditions. Prefers acidic soils (pH 4.5-6.0).
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 1.0-2.0 inches. Requires frequent mowing during the wet season to manage tall seed stalks. Low fertilization needs (1-2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year). Maintenance level is low to medium.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance in tropical areas; moderate wear tolerance but slow to recover from heavy damage. High salt tolerance. Natural resistance to many common turf diseases in high-humidity environments.
Ecological Information
Native to the Americas. Provides soil stabilization in high-rainfall tropical regions. Can be considered invasive in certain wetland ecosystems but is a valuable low-input forage and turf grass in its adapted range.