Sweet Smother Grass
Scientific name: Dactyloctenium australe
Characteristics: A coarse textured grass that grows well in shaded areas. It has long stolon internodes and must be mown high (around 35-40 mm or more) to avoid thinning out the stand. It has excellent shade tolerance, but should not be planted in areas subject to moderate or heavy wear.
Example: Sweet smother.
Other names: Species common names: Sweet smothergrass, Durban grass.
Cultivar names: There are no recognised cultivars of sweet smothergrass.
Origin: Southern Africa.
Global growing areas: Southern Africa, Australia (available from specialist suppliers in Australia).
IP protection: None.
Details
- Texture: Coarse.
- Description: A perennial grass species with above-ground runners (stolons) which may extend for up to 1 metre. Leaves 2.5-4.5 mm wide, blade length 50-70 mm in a lawn situation, mid- to dark green, shiny, slightly hairy on the margins and slightly crinkled in appearance. Stolons produce tufted growths rooting at the nodes every 6-10 cm. Digitate inflorescences (seed heads) consist of 2 or 3 radial arms (racemes) about 15 cm above the leaf canopy
- Use: Lawn for shaded areas in northern Australia.
- Mowing height: 35 mm (minimum) to 70 mm (higher in shaded areas).
- Method of propagation: Vegetative sod, soloniferous spread. (Seeds drop quickly from seed heads preventing economically-viable commercial seed harvest).
- Preferred soil types: Sandy to clay loams.
Comments
Used in mixtures with Stenotaphrum secundatum in South Africa.
Tolerances
- Heat: Good.
- Cold: Green throughout winter in unfrosted areas.
- Shade: Excellent shade tolerance.
- Drought: Low to medium drought tolerance.
- Wear: Poor wear tolerance.
- Herbicide sensitivity: Unknown.
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 Sweet Smother please go to http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/26_4221.htm
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