Bermudagrass is common in warm climates, including Southern California. It is a durable perennial often used on golf courses and athletic fields. It thrives in high temperatures and areas much sun. It propagates by seed, sprigs and sod. It resists drought and adapts to different types of soil. It germinates quickly from seed.
Buffalo grass a good choice for the desert areas of Southern California. It does not need soil with high fertility and requires little maintenance. It makes for an attractive lawn with a bluish-green color in the summer before turning to a shade of straw brown in the winter months. It is planted from seed and spreads with surface runners.
Zoysiagrass is a durable warm-weather grass that thrives in full sun and the Southern California heat. Planted from both seed and sod, it is drought resistant because it has deep roots that draw water from the ground surface. It becomes green earlier in the spring than other warm-season grasses.