Scientific name for genus and species, English common name,
use, and characteristics of the major turfgrass genera and
species.
| Genus species |
English common name |
Use and characteristics |
|
Subfamily Pooideae: cool season
|
| Agrostis stolonifera |
creeping bentgrass |
High density, highest intensity
use (putting greens, overseeding); stoloniferous, thus
prone to thatch; disease prone. |
| Festuca arundinacea |
tall fescue |
Low maintenance bunch grass, competitive
for transition zone and southern regions of cool season
zone. Considered a lower water use alternative to Kentucky
bluegrass. |
| Festuca rubra, etc. |
fine fescues (creeping red, Chewings);
also hard, sheep |
Low maintenance, high density,
nonaggressive grasses for low fertility soils, excellent
shade tolerance. |
| Lolium perenne |
perennial ryegrass |
Fast establishing bunch species
with poor heat tolerance for general use turf, sports
turf, overseeding. A companion species, annual ryegrass
Lolium multiflorum, is often used for quick
cover on southeastern U.S. highway rights-of-way, usually
during construction. |
| Poa pratensis |
Kentucky bluegrass |
Rhizomatous, long-lived, cold-tolerant,
shade-intolerant perennial for general use turf (lawns,
fairways). It is the most widely used cool-season turfgrass.
Species goes dormant in summer. Mows cleanly. Shallow
roots. |
| Poa trivialis |
Roughstalk bluegrass |
Stoloniferous, short-lived, shade-tolerant
and moisture-tolerant species for use is lawns in temperate
areas, and for greens overseeding in warm climates. |
|
Subfamily Chloridoideae: warm season,
dry climate
|
| Buchloë dactyloides |
buffalograss |
Extremely drought avoidant turf for western United States;
slow establishment; susceptible to weed invasion. |
| Cynodon dactylon and hybrids |
common bermudagrass |
Most rapid growing, highly recuperative warm-season
grass for high intensity use (athletic fields, golf courses);
suitable for lawns in heavier soils. Interspecific hybrids
important. |
| Zoysia japonica |
Japanese lawngrass |
Intermediate maintenance intensity grass for use in
transition zone and in coastal areas; slow establishment.
Other species and their hybrids exist. |
|
Subfamily Panicoideae: warm season,
moist climate
|
| Axonopus affinis |
carpetgrass |
Low maintenance, poorly competitive species; prefers
wet habitats and heavy soils |
| Eremochloa ophiurioides |
centipedegrass |
Low fertility requiring, low growing, hard-to-establish
species; grows best on heavy soils (some say acidic). |
| Paspalum notatum |
bahiagrass |
Most highly drought avoidant warm-season species; growth
is rank and seedy; salt and shade tolerance are poor. |
| Paspalum vaginatum |
seashore paspalum |
Most highly salt tolerant warm-season turf species;
rhizomatous and densely stoloniferous; low herbicide tolerance. |
| Stenotaphrum secundatum |
St. Augustinegrass |
Shade tolerant, coarse-textured stoloniferous species
for lawns in Florida and gulf coastal areas; fair wear
tolerance; wide range of pH tolerance. |
