Today’s blog will provide you with essential information on the different grass types in South Africa. It serves as chapter two of our previous lawn care guide, which covered year-round maintenance based on regional rainfall patterns. In that post, we explored basic lawn care tasks like watering, fertilising, mowing, scarifying, aeration, and overseeding, plus insights into common pests and diseases.
This blog focuses on grass species themselves — which to choose, where they grow best, and what kind of care they need. If you’re unsure which grass type will thrive in your garden, this guide will help you make an informed choice.
What to Consider Before Choosing a Grass Type
Before you select from the many different grass types in South Africa, it’s essential to consider a few key factors. What will you use the grass for? Are you after a manicured aesthetic or something more natural and hardy? Also, think about your regional climate, the soil type in your garden, and how much sunlight the lawn area receives. Heavy foot traffic, water availability, and your willingness to maintain it regularly will also influence your decision.
Warm-Season Grasses in South Africa
Kearsney Grass (Axonopus Compressus)
One of the first grass types to consider is Kearsney grass. This is a coarse-textured, light green lawn with a glossy finish. It prefers growing in frost-free coastal areas and does not do well in frost-prone zones. As a shallow-rooted species native to the American tropics, it thrives in moist, sandy soils with partial shade, although it won’t survive waterlogged conditions.
Kearsney grass has relatively high humidity and heat tolerance, which makes it ideal for the coastal regions of KwaZulu-Natal. It doesn’t require much mowing, making it a low-maintenance option in that regard. However, its low tolerance for foot traffic limits its use in high-activity areas. In South Africa, it is usually sold in plug trays rather than as instant lawn.
Cynodon Dactylon and Cynodon Transvaalensis (Bermuda, Couch, Kweek)
Cynodon grasses are among the most versatile grass types in South Africa. These indigenous grasses, including both C. dactylon and C. transvaalensis, are popular for their drought and heat tolerance, ability to withstand high traffic, and fine-leaf texture, making them ideal for manicured lawns and sports fields.
Cynodons are sun-loving grasses and do not perform well in shaded areas. Most are not frost-tolerant, although newer frost-resistant hybrids are now available. Their aggressive growth habits (via stolons and rhizomes) allow them to recover quickly from stress and crowd out weeds.
Some notable Cynodon varieties include:
- Harrismith: Medium texture with excellent frost resistance and deep roots.
- Seagreen: Dark green leaves, heat and drought tolerant, vigorous grower.
- Silverton Blue: Medium-textured, better suited to tropical regions.
- LMG/TifDwarf: Dwarf variety, fine to medium leaf, used on golf courses and bowling greens.
- Bayview: Very fine textured, fast-growing, frost and salt tolerant.
- Florida: Fine texture, tolerates heat and drought but not frost.
- Gulfgreen: Coarser texture, tolerates semi-shade, drought, and salt. Vigorous grower.
- Royal Blue: Dark green, luxurious texture, tolerates cold and moderate salinity.
- Skaap Plaas: Very fine blade, fast growth, great drought resistance.
- Tifgreen & Tifway: Medium-fine hybrids with light frost tolerance.
Buffalo Grass (Stenotaphrum Secundatum)
Buffalo grass is another popular warm-season grass. It is well-suited for coastal regions thanks to its high salinity tolerance. With a coarse texture and bluish-green hue, Buffalo grass can feel quite firm underfoot. Although it can tolerate moderate traffic, it recovers slowly from damage and isn’t ideal for sports fields.
Despite claims that Buffalo grass is low-maintenance, this is a misconception. It requires less frequent mowing, but it needs regular deep irrigation and feeding. In heavier soils, it may also require regular aeration. Buffalo grass performs well in full sun but can handle dappled shade. It prefers sandy, compost-rich soils and is best avoided in clay-heavy environments. In frost-prone areas, it goes dormant in winter and may need overseeding to maintain a green lawn year-round.
Kikuyu Grass (Pennisetum Clandestinum)
Kikuyu is a vigorous, fast-growing grass originally from Kenya. It is bright green and coarse-textured, making it a favourite for lawns that experience heavy use, such as sports fields and playgrounds. Kikuyu is not low-maintenance. It requires frequent mowing and scarifying, particularly in frost-prone or shaded areas where it tends to become thatchy.
It thrives in fertile, well-drained soils and requires full sun — ideally more than 6 hours daily. While it tolerates heat and moderate acidity, it does not respond well to extreme humidity or deep shade. Kikuyu’s aggressive spreading habit means you’ll need to regularly trim its edges to prevent it from invading beds or pathways.
In frost-prone regions, it tends to go dormant and turn brown. Overseeding with cold-season grasses can help maintain a lush appearance in winter. Although it needs regular watering, especially in dry winters, Kikuyu’s resilience and ability to recover from damage quickly make it a versatile choice.
Berea Grass (Dactyloctenium Australe)
Also known as LM grass or Durban grass, Berea grass has dark, apple-green leaves and a stoloniferous growth pattern. It prefers full sun but can grow in semi-shade. However, it does not tolerate deep shade, frost, or heavy traffic.
Berea grass is commonly used in KwaZulu-Natal and the Lowveld due to its high humidity tolerance and ability to grow in sandy soils. It requires frequent mowing and regular watering, especially in summer. While it’s not ideal for high-traffic zones, it offers a good solution for shaded areas where other grasses might struggle.
Additional Warm-Season Grasses from Historical Sources
Other lesser-known but noteworthy grass types include:
- Natal Awheel: A highly drought-resistant grass ideal for coastal regions.
- Royal Cape: A Cynodon dactylon variety with fine leaves and a blue-green tint. Excellent for formal lawns.
- Swazi Grass / Swazi Selection: Finer than Florida grass, darker in colour, but not frost-tolerant.
- Wonderlawn (Dichondra repens): Not a true grass but used as ground cover. Best suited for mild, frost-free climates and not recommended for high-traffic areas.
Cold-Season Grasses in South Africa
Cold-season grasses are well-suited to frost-prone areas, remaining green during winter. These grasses often offer better shade tolerance than warm-season varieties but are less tolerant of drought and heat. They are bunch-forming, meaning they don’t spread invasively, and should not be scarified or top-dressed.
They require less frequent mowing and should be mowed at a higher blade setting. Two common varieties include:
All Season’s Evergreen
This grass performs well in both full sun and dappled shade. It can tolerate frost and light traffic, making it ideal for gardens in colder climates. However, it does require regular deep watering and has only moderate heat tolerance.
Shade Over
Shade Over is a blend of grasses designed for shaded areas. It’s fine for medium-textured foliage to stay green throughout the year if watered thoroughly. It is commonly used to fill bare patches where sun-loving grass types fail to thrive.
Synthetic Grass: A Waterwise Alternative
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance solution, synthetic grass might be the answer. It’s completely waterwise, almost maintenance-free, and looks neat year-round in any light or weather condition. We’ve written a full article on synthetic grass, so be sure to check it out if you’re curious about this eco-friendly option.
Final Thoughts
While most grass types covered in this guide offer viable options for different regions and lawn needs, it’s also worth noting that some varieties are generally not recommended due to poor performance or high maintenance. For example, Daisy Lawn is often avoided by professional landscapers and gardeners because of its limited durability and unsuitability for most South African climates.
South Africa’s varied climate means there is no universal grass type that suits all regions. Choosing the right lawn species depends on your local conditions, aesthetic preference, and willingness to maintain it. From heat-loving Kikuyu to shade-tolerant cold-season grasses, there’s a perfect match for every lawn.
Not sure where to start? Don’t forget to check out our guides on composting, soil preparation, and smart watering techniques to get the most out of your lawn investment.