The Best Shade- & Drought-Tolerant Sod in Florida

Zoysiagrass

• Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) comes in many varieties, a majority of which are well adapted to growing across Florida. The warm-season grass is well adapted to warm regions and has a very high tolerance for heat, drought and high traffic. The slow-establishing grass has low water requirements with a moderate level of tolerance for shade. The variety Zoysia japonica has a higher shade tolerance. The fine- to medium-textured grass is dark green with stiff, short blades that grow into a thick turf. The grass goes dormant in winter and turns brown.

Seashore Paspalum

• Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) is a highly salt-tolerant, warm-season grass suited for the humid and hot coastal regions of Florida. The grass has a very high tolerance for drought and good tolerance for shade. The grass is a native of the subtropical and tropical areas of South and North America and creates a dense turf with spreading rhizomes and stolons. The grass thrives in moist ground and can live through extended dry periods. Seashore pascalum has coarse leafblades that create a uniform turf when mowed regularly to a height of 1 inch or less.

Carpetgrass

• Carpetgrass (Axonopus affinis) is a popular perennial grass in the central southern areas of Florida given its good tolerance for shade and drought. The grass spreads with creeping stolons and has wide blades with rounded tips. Carpetgrass thrives in sandy, moist soil and is more shade-tolerant than bermudagrass. The grass adapts well to poorly fertile ground and hence is commonly used in low-maintenance sites such roadsides, golf course roughs and parks. Carpetgrass is susceptible to certain soilborne diseases including brown patch.