Centipede Grass — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Eremochloa ophiuroides |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 10–21 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 18.3–26.7 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 45–90 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 15.2–30.5 |
| Mature height (cm) | 5.1–12.7 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 10.2–61 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 7–9 |
| Light | Partial sun |
| Water | Low |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Seed or plug in late spring; mow at 1.5–2 inches and fertilize minimally — no more than 1 lb nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft per year. Centipede grass is the low-maintenance lawn grass of the Southeast, occupying an important niche as the grass for homeowners who want an attractive lawn with minimal fertilization, mowing, and irrigation requirements. Native to China and Southeast Asia, centipede grass was introduced to the US in 1916 and spread across the Gulf Coastal Plain states where its preference for acidic soils, low fertility tolerance, moderate shade adaptation, and low water requirements suited the conditions of the pine-forested South. Centipede produces a medium-textured, light to medium green, dense sward that grows slowly enough to require mowing only every 10–14 days. The most critical management consideration is restraint: centipede grass is notoriously susceptible to 'centipede decline' caused by over-fertilization (especially excess nitrogen and phosphorus), high pH (above 6.5), and over-irrigation — it evolved in infertile acidic soils and heavy maintenance inputs push it out of its ecological comfort zone. The ideal centipede lawn receives one application of 15-0-15 or similar fertilizer per year at 0.5–1.0 lb nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft, minimal phosphorus, maintained soil pH of 5.5–6.0, and supplemental irrigation only during drought. 'TifBlair' is the most cold-hardy cultivar; 'Hammock' and 'Tennessee Hardy' are excellent regional selections.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0