Tropical Broadleaf Grass Propagation

Axonopus Compressus

• The low growing tropical broadleaf carpet grass, or Kulape, grows well in Hawaii as a groundcover under crop trees such as coconut, oil palm or rubber. Since growers use the grass in Australia and the United States as lawn grass, propagation is important. However, the plant doesn't produce much seed and therefore sprigging is the common method of propagation.

Stenotaphrum Secundatum

• Also known in the United States as St. Augustine grass, this broadleaf grass grows well in the tropics. It's a common plant where high rainfall and humid air encourages rapid growth. The plants form large mats of blue-gray spikes of broad grass blades. Like the carpet grass of Hawaii, Stenotaphrum Secundatum doesn't produce much seed. Growers plant well-rooted sprigs to cover new areas over time.

Digitaria milijiana

• Digitaria milijiana, or Jarra grass, is a tropical plant native to Australia. Jarra grass is a relative to the common crabgrass homeowners often try to keep out of their lawns. The grass blades are wide, almost 1/2-inch-thick. This tropical plant seeds easily and produces a fine small seed. The thicker you sow the seed, the faster the area fills in with grass plants. Other weeds get choked out, lowering the competition.

Pennisetum purpureum

• Pennisetum purpureum, or elephant grass, grows as high as 12 feet with 1- to 2-inch-wide blades. Government agencies list this plant as an invasive species in Florida where it spreads in roadside ditches. Elephant grass is native to the grasslands of Africa but is common throughout many of the tropics, including Hawaii. Growers plant the elephant grass with root cuttings, or with stem pieces with at least three nodes. Two nodes are covered with soil and the third then sprouts a new plant.