Kingdom Plantae Family Poaceae Scientific name Eremochloa ophiuroides Rank Species | Order Poales Genus Eremochloa Higher classification Eremochloa | |
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Similar Grasses, St Augustine Grass, Eremochloa, Lawngrass, Paspalum notatum | ||
Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) is a warm season lawn grass that is thick sod forming, uniform hugs the ground growth spreading by stolons, and medium to light green colored. It has a coarse texture with short upright seedhead stems that grow to about 3-5 inches.
Centipedegrass is a low maintenance grass. It requires infrequent mowing. Centipedegrass has medium shade tolerance and limited traffic tolerance.
Centipedegrass is shallow rooted and has poor drought tolerance. During summer months soil moisture should be monitored. Centipede grass should only be watered when stressed, and only when the soil can be watered four to six inches.
Centipedegrass survives in mild cold temperatures as long as there aren’t several hard freezes since it doesn’t go into a true dormancy. With light freezes it will turn brown but recover and re-green as the temperature rises.
Centipedegrass does well in sandy and acidic soils. Centipede grass has low fertilization requirements. Too much nitrogen encourages the stolons to grow above the soil instead of on the soil which then reduces its cold and drought tolerance.
When healthy, this full sun and slightly shade tolerant grass is aggressive enough to choke out weeds and other grasses.
Centipedegrass seed is native to Southern China and was introduced to the United States in 1916. It has since become one of the common grasses in the southeastern states and Hawai'i.
Centipede can also be considered a weed.