Aussiblue - Blue Couch
Aussiblue - Blue Couch
Scientific name:
Digitaria didactyla (formerly D. swazilandensis)
Other names:
Species common names
Blue couch, Swazi grass
Cultivar name: Aussiblue
Origin:
Selected by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries at Grafton from an out-crossing population produced from seed, which was introduced into Australia in the late 1960s.
Global growing areas: Australia (available from licensed commercial growers).
IP protection: Australian PBR certificate #2058 (granted 7 July 2002)
Details:
- Texture: Fine-medium, with a soft leaf.
- Description: Very long stolons. Attractive uniformly blue-green leaves. Leaf sheath length 16.9-21.1 mm, width 2.4-3.0 mm (4th node from tip of stolon) (data from PBR growing trial).
- Use: Domestic and commercial lawns, low maintenance sports fields and parkland.
- Mowing height: 25-35 mm
- Method of propagation: Vegetative sod, stolons
- Preferred soil types: Sands and loams but adaptable to light clays. Grows well on neutral to acid soils; tolerant of very acid soils (pH 5.5 and lower).
Comments:
Vigorous lateral stolon growth (averaging 1400 mm from a 45 mm plug in 100 days, 24% more than Queensland blue couch). (Data from PBR growing trial).
Maintains a closer, tighter mat of stolons giving better ground surface coverage than for common Queensland blue couch. More resistant to weed invasion in South East Queensland than other warm-season grasses, particularly under low fertility conditions.
Minimal seed head production. Seed heads are taller than on common Queensland blue couch. Under a normal mowing regime (fortnightly in winter and weekly in summer) few, if any, seed heads will be produced.
Tolerances:
- Heat: Excellent
- Cold: Retains colour in winter in South East Queensland. Recovers quickly from frost. Browns off with heavy frost.
- Shade: Moderate. More shade tolerant than Queensland blue couch and most green couch cultivars.
- Drought: Excellent drought tolerance. Deep rooted. Responds quickly to moisture.
- Salinity: Not tolerant
- Wear: Fair
- Herbicide sensitivity: Similar to common Queensland blue couch. Not tolerant of MSMA or DSMA.
- Pests and diseases: Lawn grubs (army worm, sod webworm). Shows resistance to dollar spot.
Photos used on this page are not necessarily photos from DEEDI
For more information and updates on warm season turfgrasses, their production and management please go to http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/turf
For updates on Aussieblue please go to http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/26_4187.htm
