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Centipede Grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides): A Low-Maintenance, Acid-Loving Lawn Grass

Centipede Grass, Eremochloa ophiuroides, is a warm-season turf grass native to China and Southeast Asia. It is prized for its low maintenance requirements—infrequent mowing, low fertility needs, and good shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses.

Characteristics

This grass spreads by stolons (above-ground runners) to form a dense, coarse-textured, light green sward. It has a distinctive "centipede" appearance due to the short, upright stems arising from the stolons. It produces inconspicuous seed heads. It thrives in acidic soils (pH 5.0–6.0) and is sensitive to iron deficiency in alkaline soils.

Uses and Limitations

Centipede Grass is widely used for lawns, roadsides, and erosion control in the southeastern U.S. It is slow to establish but then requires minimal care. It has poor cold tolerance (hardy to zone 7b) and does not tolerate heavy traffic or salt.

Family:	Poaceae (poh-AY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus:	Eremochloa (er-em-OH-kloh-uh) (Info)
Species:	ophiuroides

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