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GENERAL
Vigour
:
slow-growing
Humidity
:
semi-arid, semi-
humid, very
humid
Propagation :
direct sowing,
cuttings
Maintenance :
high
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
vulnerable
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
medium
Salinity/ppm :
high (5000 ppm)
Hardiness
:
-21°C
SHAPE
Type
:
grasses
Height
:
0.03 m-0.15 m
Spread
:
0.1 m-0.3 m
Foliage
:
evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
brown
Size
:
6 cm
Period
:
June - July
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
caryopsis
Zoysia, sometimes called Japanese lawn grass or Korean lawn grass, is a species of perennial, cree-
ping grass native to Asia and Australia. It is widely used as a groundcover and is useful in Arri-
yadh in places where lawnmowing is not possible. Z. japonica is a coarse-textured and cold-hardy
species with stiff, pointed leaf blades, which are smooth with occasional hairs near the base. The
inflorescence is a short, terminal raceme on a spike. Growing well in moderately shaded locations,
it tolerates soils from sands to clays, both acid and alkaline. Zoysia is salt-tolerant and extremely
drought-tolerant, but becomes straw-coloured when very dry or after hard frost, although it turns
green again with irrigation and higher temperatures. Zoysia requires regular irrigation during
the summer. During dry winter months, Zoysia needs only occasional watering. Zoysia is propa-
gated from seed, is available commercially as turf, and can also be established by planting plugs;
the best time for planting is early summer. It can form dense mats, and sometimes makes little
hillocks and even mounds that grow over low features. Used on golf courses, Zoysia also stops
erosion on slopes and repels weeds. It makes a good lawn, but is not recommended for football
fields. Sometimes chlorotic on calcareous soil, Zoysia should be fertilised monthly. Zoysia is
relatively free of serious pests, although white grubs may attack turf: brown patch, rust and leaf
spot diseases can cause problems, and fungicides may be needed on intensively maintained lawns.
323
Zoysia japonica,
Poaceae
Zoysia,
Japanese Grass