Palmetto - Turf Grass

By Admin, on June 21st, 2011

Palmetto - Buffalo

Scientific name:

Stenotaphrum secundatum

Other names:

Species common name

Buffalo grass (Australia)

St Augustinegrass (USA)

Trademark (brand name): Palmetto

Registered PBR cultivar name: SS100

Origin:

Selection from a sod farm in central Florida, USA. Breeder: Elmer R Kirkland

Global growing areas:

United States, Australia, South Africa and Brazil. Available from licensed commercial growers in Australia.

IP protection: United States Plant Patent PP9,395. Australian PBR certificate #1953 (granted 2 May 2002).

Details

Texture: Coarse
Description: Dark green leaves. Leaf width 8-9 mm, internode length 19.1 mm, internode width 4.1 mm (data from PBR growing trial)
Use: Lawns (residential/commercial/industrial), parkland
Mowing height: 50-75 mm
Method of propagation: Vegetative sod, sprigging of stolons
Preferred soil types: Sandy loams to clays; soil pH 6.7 to 7.5 preferred

Root system is fine and deep. Can be harvested by sod producers after 100% ground coverage is achieved. Soft leaf texture

Heat: Excellent, in high and low humidity areas
Cold: Good. Survives normal frosts under Australian conditions
Shade: Good
Drought: Fair. Deep root system, but water loss through broadleaved canopy is high
Salinity: Medium salinity tolerance
Wear: Fair. Not recommended for high traffic areas. Needs time to repair damage by growing new runners
Herbicide sensitivity: Sensitive to many of the herbicides used for the management of green couch. Use only registered herbicides in accordance with the label
Pests and diseases: Shows resistance to Rhizoctonia solani (brown patch)

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