Centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) is a popular warm-season turfgrass known for its low-maintenance requirements in the Southern United States. Homeowners often select this variety due to its specific needs and distinctive appearance. Understanding its physical traits and growth habits is key to identifying this unique grass in a landscape.
Identifying Blade and Shoot Structure
Centipede grass coloration is a visual identifier, presenting as a lighter, brighter apple-green hue rather than a dark emerald color. Its texture is coarse, with individual blades ranging in width from about 0.1 to 0.2 inches (2 to 4 mm). The leaves are distinctly creased and flat, featuring a prominent mid-vein running down the center.
The leaf tips are slightly rounded or boat-shaped, contrasting with the sharply pointed tips of some other grasses. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, giving the shoot a compressed and flattened appearance. Centipede grass is relatively hairless, with only sparse hairs typically found along the edges of the blades or near the collar region. This combination of light color, moderate width, and flattened shoots is specific to the species.
How Centipede Grass Spreads
Centipede grass is a creeping perennial that relies entirely on above-ground runners, called stolons, for lateral spread and propagation. These stolons are thick, visible, and grow horizontally along the soil surface, rooting down at nodes to establish new individual plants. The plant’s name is derived from this appearance, as the short, upright stems growing from the stolons resemble a centipede.
This grass does not produce underground runners, or rhizomes. The absence of rhizomes means that the spread is slower and more easily contained with edging, making it less invasive than turf that uses both growth mechanisms. This reliance on stolons alone contributes to a slower establishment rate compared to other warm-season grasses.
Ideal Climate and Established Lawn Appearance
Centipede grass thrives in the humid subtropical climate of the Southeastern United States. It performs best in full sun but can tolerate light shade, particularly in the shifting shade under pine trees. It prefers acidic soils with a pH ideally between 5 and 6, and tolerates low-fertility, sandy conditions better than many other turf varieties.
When established, a Centipede lawn presents a dense, low-growing, and uniform carpet-like appearance. Its preferred mowing height is 1 to 2 inches. Keeping the grass at this low profile prevents excessive thatch buildup and contributes to the characteristic clean, level look of a mature Centipede turf. The resulting lawn is visually distinct due to its light color and dense, low-cut uniformity.