Description

Carpetgrass (Axonopus) is a slow-growing, medium-green (and sometimes greenish yellow), coarsely textured turfgrass that is adapted to low-maintenance, general-purpose turf. It prefers full sun to moderate shade and performs well in wet, shady, acidic soils where other grasses may not. Carpetgrass looks very similar to centipedegrass except that it produces a crabgrass-like seedhead, and centipedegrass has hairs along the edges of the leaves.

Lawn Maintenance

• For a month-by-month carpetgrass lawn maintenance calendar, see Carpetgrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar, AG-541.

Species Data

• SEEDHEAD / FLOWER
  • raceme; 2-5 spikes in each head; spikes broad at base, and tapering to a point
    Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4
• VERNATION TYPE
  • leaves folded in the bud
    Figure 5, Figure 6
• LIGULE TYPE
  • short, fringe of hairs fused at the base, 0.04 inches (1 mm) wide
    Figure 7
• GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
  • warm season turf or perennial weed
• AURICLE TYPE
  • absent
• LEAF BLADE TIP SHAPE
  • boat shaped
    Figure 8, Figure 9
• LEAF BLADE WIDTH
  • 0.16 - 0.31 inches (4 - 8 mm) wide
    Figure 10
• STOLON PRESENCE
  • present
• RHIZOME PRESENCE
  • absent
• COLLAR TYPE
  • continuous; not hairy or with only a few hairs
• SHEATH MARGIN
  • open; sheath has few long hairs on margin