Zoysia matrella Seeds | Manila Grass
LATIN NAME: Zoysia matrella
COMMON NAME: Manila Grass
Plant Profile
Zoysia matrella, commonly known as Manila Grass, is a grass in the grass family. The Manila grass is fine, dense turf of warm lawns, and short, wiry stems knit into smooth, green sward. Plant is a fine, generous presence of warm garden, and it is a plant of open, sunny, well-drained ground. It is hard to name another plant that gives this much for this little trouble.
Science & Biotechnology
The species features in the wider study of the grass family, and its traits make it a useful subject for work on germination biology, cultivation and ornamental selection. The practical point for growers is that this plant has been observed in gardens for so long that its behaviour holds few surprises.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Manila Grass for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. The Manila grass is a fine, generous plant of warm lawn and playing field. It is a fine, generous plant of open, sunny, well-drained garden. Give new lawn light mowing through warm season, and dense turf will thicken in the sun. Given the right start, it carries on with minimal intervention.
Zoysia makes the dense, barefoot-soft lawns of Asia, drought-tough and slow to need mowing.
Growing from Seed
Starting Manila Grass from seed is simple and satisfying. Use a fine, free-draining seed compost, scatter the seed evenly, cover it lightly and hold it just moist in good light. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Manila Grass settles in quickly once it finds its footing. In a sunny, freely drained position it needs little looking after.
Related Reading
Readers interested in Manila Grass frequently explore these as well: