Species Characteristics

Cool Season
Turfgrasses

Leaf
Texture

Disease
Resistance

Growth
Habit

Establishment Rate

Nitrogen
Use

Water
Use
(ET Rate)

Drought
Tolerance

Salinity
Tol.

Competitiveness

Shade
Tol.

Heat
Tol.

Bentgrass

creeping

fine

moderate
to good

stolons

moderate
to fast

low to
moderate

high

poor
to good

high

high

moderate
to poor

excellent

colonial

fine

good to excellent

bunch-
grass

moderate
to fast

low

low

good

moderate

moderate

moderate

poor

velvet

very
fine

good to
excellent

stolons

moderate
to fast

very low

low

good

moderate

high

good

poor

Bluegrass

Kentucky

moderate
to fine

moderate
to good

rhizomes

slow

moderate
to high

moderate
to high

good

moderate

moderate

poor to
good

poor to
moderate

Fescue

Chewings

fine

good to
excellent

bunch-
grass

moderate

moderate
to low

low

good to
excellent

low

high

excellent

poor to
moderate

hard

fine

good to
excellent

bunch-
grass

slow to
moderate

low to
very low

low

excellent

low to
moderate

moderate

excellent

poor to
moderate

slender
creeping

fine

good to
excellent

rhizomes

moderate

low to
moderate

low

good

low

moderate

excellent

poor to
moderate

strong
creeping

moderate
to fine

good to
excellent

rhizomes

moderate

low to
moderate

low

good

low

moderate

excellent

poor to
moderate

blue

fine

good to
excellent

bunchgrass

slow to
moderate

very
low

low

excellent

low to
moderate

moderate

excellent

poor to
moderate

tall,
turf-type

moderate
to coarse

moderate
to good

bunchgrass

moderate

moderate
to high

high

excellent

high

moderate

excellent

good to
excellent

Ryegrass

perennial

fine

moderate
to poor

bunchgrass

very fast

moderate
to high

moderate
to high

good

moderate
to part

high

poor to
moderate

good to
excellent

Warm Season Turfgrasses

Leaf
Texture

Disease
Resistance

Growth
Habit

Establishment Rate

Nitrogen
Use

Water
Use
(ET rate)

Drought
Tolerance

Salinity
Tol.

Competitiveness

Shade
Tol.

Heat
Tol.

Bermudagrass

seed

moderate
to fine

good

stolons &
rhizomes

moderate
to fast

moderate

moderate
to high

excellent

very
good

excellent

poor

good

sod or
sprigs

moderate
to very
fine

good

stolons &
rhizomes

moderate
to fast

moderate

moderate
to high

excellent

very
good

excellent

poor

poor

Zoysiagrass

moderate
to coarse

good to
excellent

stolons &
rhizomes

slow to
moderate

moderate

moderate

excellent

good

excellent

poor

good

Buffalograss

moderate
to coarse

good to
excellent

stolons

slow to
moderate

low

low

excellent

moderate

fair

very
poor

good to
excellent

Bahiagrass

coarse to
very
coarse

good to
excellent

rhizomes

slow to
moderate

low

low

excellent

excellent

good

good

poor

Centipedegrass

moderate
to coarse

good to
excellent

stolons

slow

low

low

good

good

good

fair

good