Coarse Lawn Grasses

Bahia Grass

• Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) is a light green grass that originated in Brazil. It has an extensive root system allowing it to go deeper into the soils than many grasses, giving it more drought tolerance. It doesn't form a thick, even carpet, and is considered less desirable than fine-bladed grasses, but it is ideal for areas of low fertility and no additional irrigation. It doesn't tolerate high pH soils, seawater, shade or traffic very well. However, it is generally low-maintenance.

St. Augustine Grass

• St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is native to the Gulf Coast areas, and is tolerant to the moist, warm, sandy growing conditions commonly found in that area. It thrives in the heat but doesn't tolerate drought very well. It adapts well to areas with high soil salinity, but does not like to be waterlogged. The thick coarse leaves makes it less desirable than the thin-bladed types, but its survival rate in conditions that might normally challenge or kill other grasses makes it a good choice for those tough Southern coastal lawns.

Centipede Grass

• Slow-growing centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) is the most popular grass in the southeastern United States. It has coarse, apple-green leaf blades and forms dense green mats. It's native to southern China, and adapts well to any warm, moist climate similar to that area. It tolerates coastal soils that are sandy and saline, but not as well as Bermuda or St. Augustine grasses. Like St. Augustine grass, it doesn't tolerate a lot of foot traffic. It's much easier to control invasions into flowerbeds due to its above-ground stolons, and makes it a good low-maintenance choice.

Carpet Grass

• While often used as a cover crop or for pasture, carpet grass (Aoxopus compressus) is also used for lawns. It's native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, and thrives in the moist, low-fertility, acidic soils commonly found in the tropics. It's a thick coarse grass that seldom grows above 6 inches tall, and isn't exceptionally attractive but is generally low-maintenance. In fact, mowing would barely be required at all if it weren't for the prolific seed heads. It's not very shade-tolerant, but it can take the heat of Southern summers.