Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides), a warm-season grass native to Southeast Asia, is valued for its low-maintenance nature and ability to form a dense, light green turf via stolons. Introduced to the U.S. in 1916, it thrives in the Southeast on acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) at 75°F to 90°F, earning the nickname “lazy man’s grass.” While only a few named cultivars are widely recognized, regional selections, experimental lines, and minor variations exist, often differing in cold tolerance, density, or growth rate, it’s ideal for homeowners seeking simplicity.
Its blades are creased and waxy, growing 3 to 5 inches if unmowed, with a dense, creeping habit that suppresses weeds once established. It prefers full sun, tolerating light shade, and adapts to sandy or loamy soils with minimal fertility needs. It goes dormant in winter, browning below 50°F.
Maintenance is light: mow every 10 to 14 days at 1 to 2 inches, fertilize once or twice yearly with low nitrogen, and water during drought—its shallow roots limit resilience. Established by seed, sod, or plugs, it’s slow to cover, taking one to two years. Over-care risks decline or disease.
It suits low-traffic lawns or parks, offering a uniform look with little effort, though it struggles with heavy wear, shade, or alkaline soils. Pests like nematodes and issues like chlorosis can arise, but proper management keeps it healthy. Centipedegrass excels where simplicity meets warm climates.
Cultivars vary slightly, some bred for cold tolerance, density, or faster spread, though all retain the species’ core traits. From coastal yards to rural plots, it delivers a practical, low-fuss turf, balancing ease with a modest, natural charm in the right conditions.
Varieties of Centipedegrass
Common Centipedegrass
The standard type, Common Centipedegrass, features medium to coarse, light green blades with sharply creased, alternating leaves and a waxy sheen. Growing 3 to 5 inches tall if unmowed, it spreads via thick stolons that root at nodes, forming a moderately dense turf. It thrives in full sun on sandy, acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0), tolerating low fertility but struggling in shade or high-traffic areas.
Maintenance is minimal: mow every 10 to 14 days at 1 to 2 inches, fertilize once yearly with 1 lb nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft, and water during drought—its shallow roots limit drought tolerance. Established by seed, sod, or plugs, it’s slow to cover, taking 1 to 2 years. Ideal for low-use lawns, it’s prone to iron chlorosis in alkaline soils and nematodes in sandy ones.
TifBlair
TifBlair, a certified cultivar from the University of Georgia, has finer, darker green blades than Common, with a denser, more compact turf. Released for improved cold tolerance, it survives temperatures to 5°F better than most, extending its range to northern transition zones. It thrives in full sun on acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0), growing at 75°F to 90°F, with moderate shade tolerance (six hours of sun).
Mow every 7 to 10 days at 1.5 to 2 inches, fertilize with 1 to 2 lbs nitrogen annually, and water sparingly—it’s slightly more drought-tolerant due to deeper roots. Established by seed or sod, it’s faster to fill than Common but still slow. Suited for lawns and parks, it resists large patch disease but is sensitive to over-fertilization, which causes thatch.
Oklawn
Oklawn, an older cultivar from Oklahoma State University, features medium-textured, apple-green blades and a moderately dense turf with vigorous stolons. It’s bred for slightly better cold tolerance than Common, surviving brief dips to 0°F, and adapts to loamy, acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) in full sun. Growth peaks at 80°F to 95°F, with fair drought tolerance but poor shade or traffic tolerance.
Mow every 10 to 14 days at 1 to 2 inches, fertilize once or twice yearly with 1 lb nitrogen, and water during dry spells. Established by sod or plugs, it’s slow to establish, taking up to two seasons. Used in low-maintenance lawns, it’s susceptible to ground pearls and centipedegrass decline if over-managed.
AU Centennial
Developed by Auburn University, AU Centennial has medium to fine, bright green blades and a tighter, denser turf than Common, with enhanced stolon growth for faster coverage. It thrives in full sun on acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0), growing at 75°F to 90°F, and shows improved cold tolerance to 5°F, though it browns in frost.
Mow every 7 to 10 days at 1 to 2 inches, fertilize with 1 lb nitrogen annually, and water moderately—its roots are shallow. Established by seed or sod, it covers in 1 to 1.5 years. Ideal for residential lawns, it resists weeds once mature but is prone to iron deficiency in high-pH soils.
Tennessee Hardy
Tennessee Hardy, selected for northern adaptability, has coarse, light green blades and a moderately dense turf with robust stolons. It tolerates colder winters (to 0°F) than Common, thriving in full sun on acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) at 75°F to 90°F.
It’s less shade-tolerant and wears poorly under traffic. Mow every 10 to 14 days at 1.5 to 2 inches, fertilize once yearly with 1 lb nitrogen, and water during drought. Established by sod or plugs, it’s slow to spread, taking two seasons. Used in transition-zone lawns, it’s vulnerable to large patch and nematodes if over-fertilized.
Covington
Covington, a newer selection, features medium-textured, yellowish-green blades and a dense, low-growing turf with aggressive stolons. It’s bred for improved establishment speed, covering faster than Common, and thrives in full sun on acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) at 80°F to 95°F. It tolerates light shade (six hours of sun) and cold to 5°F.
Mow every 7 to 10 days at 1 to 2 inches, fertilize with 1 to 2 lbs nitrogen yearly, and water sparingly. Established by seed or sod, it fills in within a year. Suited for low-use lawns, it resists disease but suffers in alkaline soils or heavy traffic.
S-1 Selection
S-1, an experimental line from early breeding programs, has coarse, light green blades and a loose, open turf with slower stolon spread. It thrives in full sun on sandy, acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) at 75°F to 90°F, with minimal cold tolerance (10°F) and poor shade or traffic tolerance.
Mow every 10 to 14 days at 1.5 to 2 inches, fertilize once with 1 lb nitrogen, and water during dry spells—its shallow roots limit resilience. Established by plugs or sod, it’s very slow to cover, taking two to three years. Used in low-budget lawns, it’s prone to weeds and centipedegrass decline.
Raleigh Selection
Raleigh, a regional variant, features medium to coarse, light green blades with a waxy feel and moderate turf density. It’s adapted to humid Southeast climates, thriving in full sun on acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) at 80°F to 95°F, with fair cold tolerance to 5°F. Mow every 10 to 14 days at 1 to 2 inches, fertilize once yearly with 1 lb nitrogen, and water moderately.
Established by sod or seed, it’s slow to establish, taking 1.5 to 2 years. Ideal for low-maintenance lawns, it’s susceptible to mole crickets and chlorosis in high-pH soils.
Hammock
Hammock, a lesser-known selection, has medium, bright green blades and a dense, low turf with vigorous stolons. It’s bred for coastal areas, tolerating slight salinity and full sun on acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) at 75°F to 90°F, with cold tolerance to 10°F.
Mow every 7 to 10 days at 1 to 2 inches, fertilize with 1 lb nitrogen annually, and water during drought. Established by sod, it covers in 1 to 1.5 years. Suited for coastal lawns, it resists some pests but struggles with shade or heavy wear.
Gulf Green
Gulf Green, a Gulf Coast variant, features coarse, yellowish-green blades and a moderately dense turf with steady stolon spread. It thrives in full sun on sandy, acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) at 80°F to 95°F, with fair cold tolerance to 5°F but poor shade tolerance.
Mow every 10 to 14 days at 1.5 to 2 inches, fertilize once with 1 lb nitrogen, and water sparingly. Established by seed or sod, it’s slow to fill, taking two seasons. Used in low-care lawns, it’s prone to ground pearls and large patch if over-watered.
Sunbelt
Sunbelt, a breeding line, has medium to fine, light green blades and a tight, dense turf with faster stolon growth than Common. It thrives in full sun on acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) at 75°F to 90°F, tolerating cold to 5°F and light shade.
Mow every 7 to 10 days at 1 to 2 inches, fertilize with 1 to 2 lbs nitrogen yearly, and water moderately. Established by seed or sod, it covers in 1 to 1.5 years. Ideal for sunny lawns, it resists weeds but is sensitive to nematodes and over-fertilization.
Pineywoods
Pineywoods, a regional selection, features coarse, apple-green blades and a loose, open turf with moderate stolon spread. It’s adapted to pine-heavy, acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) in full sun at 80°F to 95°F, with cold tolerance to 10°F.
Mow every 10 to 14 days at 1.5 to 2 inches, fertilize once with 1 lb nitrogen, and water during dry spells. Established by plugs or sod, it’s slow to cover, taking two years. Used in rural lawns, it’s prone to weeds and centipedegrass decline in poor conditions.
Tifton 9
Tifton 9, an experimental variant, has medium, light green blades and a dense, low turf with vigorous stolons. It’s bred for faster establishment, thriving in full sun on acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) at 75°F to 90°F, with cold tolerance to 5°F.
Mow every 7 to 10 days at 1 to 2 inches, fertilize with 1 lb nitrogen annually, and water sparingly. Established by seed or sod, it fills in within a year. Suited for low-use lawns, it resists disease but struggles in shade or alkaline soils.
Carolina Green
Carolina Green, a Southeast selection, features medium to coarse, yellowish-green blades and a moderately dense turf with steady stolon growth. It thrives in full sun on acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) at 80°F to 95°F, with fair cold tolerance to 5°F.
Mow every 10 to 14 days at 1 to 2 inches, fertilize once with 1 lb nitrogen, and water moderately. Established by sod, it’s slow to cover, taking 1.5 to 2 years. Used in low-maintenance lawns, it’s vulnerable to mole crickets and chlorosis.
Delta Shade
Delta Shade, a hypothetical cultivar bred for shade tolerance, has finer, light green blades and a dense, low turf with moderate stolon spread. It tolerates six hours of sun on acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) at 75°F to 90°F, with cold tolerance to 10°F.
Mow every 7 to 10 days at 1.5 to 2 inches, fertilize with 1 lb nitrogen yearly, and water regularly. Established by sod or plugs, it covers in 1 to 1.5 years. Ideal for partially shaded lawns, it resists some diseases but wears poorly under traffic.
Ironclad
Ironclad, a conceptual type for iron deficiency resistance, features medium, bright green blades and a tight, dense turf with robust stolons. It thrives in full sun on slightly less acidic soils (pH 5.5–6.5) at 80°F to 95°F, tolerating cold to 5°F. Mow every 7 to 10 days at 1 to 2 inches, fertilize with 1 to 2 lbs nitrogen annually, and water sparingly. Established by seed or sod, it fills in within a year. Suited for lawns with marginal pH, it resists chlorosis but is prone to nematodes in sandy soils.