Zoysia

Zoysia grasses are sod-forming perennial species that possess both stolons and rhizomes. The grasses turn brown after the first hard frost and are among the first warm season grasses to green up in the spring. The species vary from extremely fine textured to coarse textured types and the leaf blades are very stiff due to high silica content.

A highly versatile species, Zoysia grasses make ideal lawn grasses in some situations and can be used on golf courses, parks, and athletic fields. They can grow in all kinds if soils ranging from sands to clays and both acid and alkaline in reaction. In the southern U.S., the Zoysia grasses grow well in moderately shaded locations. In cooler climates, Zoysia grass does not perform as well under shade as some other species. Zoysia grass is extremely drought tolerant. Although it does turn straw colored under severe drought conditions, it has the capacity to respond to subsequent irrigation or rainfall. Its water requirements are similar to Bermuda grass. The leaf blades are among the first to roll, under drought conditions, thus tending to conserve moisture more effectively than other species. Zoysia grass also has a deep root system allowing it to more effectively extract water from greater soil depths.