Centipede Grass
Eremochloa ophiuroides · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 10; excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses, goes dormant and turns straw-colored with the first frost
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Centipede
About This Grass
Forms a relatively low-growing, bright apple-green turf with moderate density. Typically maintained at 1 to 2 inches, but can grow higher if left unmowed. Known as the 'lazy man's grass' due to its slow growth rate and low maintenance requirements
Blade Characteristics
Medium-coarse texture with flat, short, light yellow-green blades with rounded to slightly pointed tips; folded in the bud; distinct collar region with a very short fringe of hairs for a ligule; lack prominent auricles
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system combined with creeping above-ground stolons; establishes at a moderate pace, creates a tight sod, but prone to thatch buildup if over-fertilized
Growing Information
Origin Region
Southern China and Southeast Asia; widely naturalized in the southeastern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading via thick, apple-green above-ground runners that root at the nodes, forming a dense, medium-textured turf
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight); moderate drought tolerance but prefers regular moisture; sensitive to alkaline soils and excessive phosphorus
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 1.0 to 2.0 inches high using a rotary mower; low maintenance level requiring minimal fertilizer (0.5 to 2 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually) and infrequent dethatching
Special Characteristics
Low wear and traffic tolerance, highly sensitive to high pH and iron deficiency (chlorosis), moderate shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, poor salt tolerance, naturally crowds out weeds well once established
Ecological Information
Introduced species in the United States; widely used for low-maintenance lawns in the Coastal Plain and Southeast; provides standard turf cover and soil stabilization with minimal ecological invasiveness outside landscaped areas