Centipedegrass is a warm-season stoloniferous turfgrass in the Poaceae family that forms thick sods, spreads by stolons and is native to South China. It is a light green coarsely leaved turfgrass that is best used as a low-maintenance, general-purpose lawn in the south. It has medium shade tolerance and limited traffic tolerance. It is valued for its infrequent mowing and fertilization requirements. Centipedegrass prefers full sun to part shade conditions in acidic soil. It does not tolerate traffic, compaction, high soil pH, high soil phosphorus, excessive thatch, drought, or heavy shade. It is best started with sod. Establishment by seed can take 2 or 3 years for full coverage. Mow this grass when it is between 1 to 2 inches high to prevent excessive thatch formation. It may need to be dethatched every 2 or 3 years. As it is shallow-rooted, take care when dethatching. The seedheads will grow 3 to 5 inches tall. Refer to " Caring for Your Lawn and the Environment " for guidelines on fertilizing and mowing. 'TifBlair' is a cultivar developed by the University of Georgia that is quicker to establish, more cold tolerant and retains its green color later into the fall. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Increased disease potential if over-fertilized and/or over-watered such as fungal infections. This species can become weedy and invade areas, like flower beds, adjacent to the turf. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common southern lawn diseases.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The light green leaves are smooth on both surfaces, and the tips are moderately pointed to blunt. The leaf has short hairs on the ligule, folded venation and a white midvein.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Spike-like raceme 3 to 5 inches in length and purple in color.