Identifying the many species and cultivars of zoysiagrass can be confusing, even for seasoned turf professionals. To help clarify the landscape, I’ve compiled research from my colleague Tim Bowyer of Patten Seed Company, along with data from Texas A&M DNA profiling and historical USDA publications. The result is a detailed breakdown of the zoysia grasses you’re likely to encounter in the United States.
The genus Zoysia is named after Austrian botanist Karl von Zois (1756–1800). Recent genetic testing by Texas A&M has revealed significant blurring between species—and even genera—within the zoysia group. There are likely more than 20 commercially grown varieties, many of which are remarkably similar. Renewed interest in zoysia has been driven by its exceptional drought tolerance, a critical factor in today’s water-conscious landscapes.
In the Atlanta and north Georgia region, Zoysia japonica has proven to be the most resilient turfgrass. It readily overtakes tall fescue lawns, even when those lawns are maintained as fescue. Three years after installation, zoysia lawns typically remain dominant and healthy, while bermudagrass lawns often show significant decline.
| Scientific Name | Common Name(s) | Commercial Name | Description | Released By | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoysia japonica (aka Z. koreana) | Japanese lawngrass, Korean lawngrass, Korean Temple Grass | Meyer | Seed introduced in 1930 from northern Korea; in U.S. since 1895. Tough, wear-resistant turf; vegetative propagation only. | National Plant Materials Center, USDA/ARS and USGA Green Section. Named for plant explorer Frank N. Meyer. | 1951 |
| Zoysia japonica | — | Midwest | Progeny of 40 polycross F1 selection. Vegetative propagation only. | Selected at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, by Bill Daniel. | 1963 |
| Zoysia japonica | — | Z-93 | Single plant selection from plants grown from Meyer seed. | National Plant Materials Center – USDA/ARS and USGA Green Section. | 1952 |
| Zoysia japonica | — | Zenith | Hybrid F1 seed of three-way field cross. Propagated by seed and vegetative material. | Patten Seed Company – Jack Murray collection. | 1995 |
| Zoysia japonica | — | Compadre (Companion) | Hybrid F1 seed of two-way field cross. Propagated by seed and vegetative material. | Patten Seed Company – Jack Murray collection. | 1995 |
| Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr. var. pacifica Gouds | Manilagrass | — | From H.N. Vinall in 1927 (F.C. 13521), originally from J.B. Norton, Hartsville, SC, likely selection from S.P.I. No. 48574. Vegetative propagation only. | Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. | Not given |
| Zoysia tenuifolia | Mascarenegrass, Korean Velvet Grass, Snake grass | Common Z. tenuifolia | Generally not mowed; left to grow free-form, creating mounds and tunnels. Found in Caribbean basin but native to Kyushu–Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Named 1834–1836. Vegetative propagation only. | Agricultural Experiment Station, Guam. | Not given |
| Zoysia japonica × Zoysia tenuifolia | — | Emerald | Vegetatively propagated F1 selection from field cross including tenuifolia and Meyer Z. japonica. Vegetative propagation only. | Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station, Tifton, GA; Plant Science Research Division, ARS; USGA. | 1955 |
For further reading, see Don’t Know Much About Zoysiagrass and Classification of Zoysiagrass.
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