UACES Facebook Turf - Warm Season by Scientific Name
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Turf - Warm Season by Scientific Name

Scientific Name Common Name Comments 
Cynodon dactylon
Thumbnail picture closeup of Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) in lawn. Select for larger image and more information 

Bermudagrass
  • Warm season grass; #1 or #2 most popular warn season lawn grass in Arkansas
  • Shade tolerance: low
  • Nitrogen requirement: high
  • Mowing height: 1/2 to 1.5" depending on cultivar
  • Drought tolerant
  • Establish: typically sod or plugs; new varieties from seed ('Riviera', 'Yukon')
  • Cultivars: 'Tifway' ('419')
  • Cold hardiness: statewide
Eremochloa ophiuroides
Thumbnail picture closeup of Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) in lawn. Select for larger image and more information 

Centipedegrass
  • Warm season grass
  • Shade tolerance: fair (more than bermudagrass; less than St. Augustine and zoysiagrass)
  • Nitrogen requirement: low (less than 2 pounds per year)
  • Mowing height: 1 to 2"
  • Requires more moisture than bermudagrass
  • Establish: typically sod or plugs; seed available
  • Cold hardiness: central and south Arkansas
Stenotaphrum secondatum
Thumbnail picture closeup of St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secondatum) in lawn. Select for larger image and more information 

St. Augustinegrass
  • Warm season grass; not very common
  • Shade tolerance: best of the warm season grasses
  • Nitrogen requirement: medium to high
  • Mowing height: 2 to 3"
  • Water requirement: high
  • Establish: mainly sod
  • Cold hardiness: southern Arkansas
Zoysia sp.
Thumbnail picture closeup of Zoysia (Zoysia sp.) in lawn. Select for larger image and more information 		 Zoysia
  • Warm season grass; very popular lawn turf in new construction
  • Shade tolerance: fair (not as tolerant as St. Augustine but much better than bermudagrass)
  • Nitrogen requirement: very low
  • Mowing height: 1 to 2" depending on cultivar
  • Water requirement: low to medium
  • Establish: mainly sod; seed starting to appear
  • Cultivars: 'El Toro', 'Meyer', 'Emerald'
  • Cold hardiness: statewide
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