Native to China, Japan and other parts of Southeast Asia, zoysia grass is a coarse, sod-forming perennial grass with smooth margins and sharp-pointed leaf blades. It will turn brown after a frost, but is one of the first grasses to turn green in the spring.
Zoysia grass is adaptable to a wide range of soil types, from sand to clay. It grows well in shade and thrives in both acid and alkaline conditions. Zoysia grass is highly drought tolerant and has a deep root system that is capable of extracting moisture from soil in extreme conditions.
The two types of zoysia grass are japonica and matrella. Varieties of japonica include Palisades, JaMur, Crowne and El Toro. Varieties of matrella include Emerald, Cavalier and Diamond.