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Zoysia japonica
Also called Japanese Zoysiagrass, Japanese lawn grass, Japanese Lawngrass, Korean Grass, Zoysia, Korean Lawn Grass, Korean And Japanese Lawn Grass
In Singapore: Japanese Lawn Grass, Korean Lawn Grass, Korean Grass, Zoysia (Grown in Singapore)
Korean lawngrass is a low, creeping, mat-forming perennial turf grass that spreads by rhizomes and stolons. It is grown mainly as a durable lawn in warm and temperate climates, and it is best established from sod, sprigs or plugs rather than seed.
Zoysia japonica (commonly known as Korean lawngrass, zoysia grass or Japanese lawngrass) is a species of creeping, mat-forming, short perennial grass that grows by both rhizomes and stolons. It is native to the coastal grasslands of southeast Asia and Indonesia. The United States was first introduced to Z. japonica in 1895. It received its first import from the Chinese region of Manchuria. Today, Z. japonica has become one of the most widely used species of turfgrass in the United States and other countries worldwide such as in Brazil, serving as a close and cheaper alternative to bermudagrass.
Although Z. japonica is one of the only Zoysia species that can be seeded, it has a lengthy germination rate of at least a month, so vegetative planting is the primary form of cultivation. Z. japonica seeds require a moist environment and a temperature of at least 70 °F (21 °C) to germinate, and therefore sod, sprigs, and plugs are less prohibitive methods of planting. Nevertheless, sod is sold at a steep price. Although it can be planted at almost any time of year, late summer planting is discouraged.
Upkeep of Z. japonica varies based on uses, in general requiring a moderate level of nitrogen fertilizer to keep its density. Treatment should be planned for early spring or late fall. On average, it requires 1–1+1⁄2 inches (2.5–3.8 cm) of irrigation a week. Experts suggest that it is mown to a height of 1⁄2–2+1⁄2 inches (1.3–6.4 cm) every 5–10 days. Z. japonica is nearly resistant to disease, yet is subject to insect attack from white grubs. One major problem with Z.
Zoysia japonica is most commonly used as turfgrass. It is often used on golf course fairways, teeing grounds, and roughs. It is also used for home lawns, parks, schoolyards, and athletic fields. Landscapers use Z. japonica as a buffer around flower beds or sand pits to keep invasive species out.
[Contains information from Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Heritage Trees from data.gov.sg (National Parks Board), made available under the terms of the Singapore Open Data Licence version 1.0]
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Zoysia japonica by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
