‘Zoysia’ is in fact the name for a collection of grasses that are originally from Asia .

Within this group there are 3 particularly common types. These being:

• zoysia japonica (Common name: “Japanese” or “Korean lawn grass”) (most cold resistant and coarsest)
• zoysia matrella, and
• zoysia tenuifolia (Mascarene or Korean velvet grass) (finest texture but least cold resistant)

Having originated in the temperate areas of Asia zoysia grasses have developed a preference for warmer climates and consequently are quite drought-resistant. This ability to remain alive in conditions that most other grasses would perish in is through their adapted root system which is amongst the deepest for grasses. However, conversely they are quite susceptible to cold conditions and will often be seen with a brownish burnt look after having been exposed to early-morning frosts during Western autumns and winters. Given this zoysia are better suited to warmer climates with little temperature fluctuations in order to keep the grass looking at its optimal. Zoysia are widely available. They are a low maintenance grass provided grown in a warmer climate but are quite a course grass and not as comfortable to walk on as some of the finer grasses available.

Zoysiajaponica is a coarse grass which is more suitable to colder climates than its relative Zoysiamatrella. This is not to say it is robust in cold weather, it is not but rather that it is more-so than the matrella variety.

The third type of Zoysia grass, Zoysia tenuifolia, as mentioned above, is the one most commonly used for grassing lawns. Why it is so popular for this use is that it is a very fine grass which makes it considerably softer under-foot than the other two types. In addition, visually each blade of grass is tighter creating a more even and ‘softer’ look to any lawn. However as a disadvantage for its use is it is not particularly resistant to the cold therefore restricting the areas in which it can be successfully used. One of the greatest things in the zoysia grasses favour are that they can take hold in wide variety of different soil types:- from sands through to clays and ranging from both ends of the pH spectrum.

Zoysia grasses are among the most wear tolerant lawn grasses. However, their slow rate of growth gives them very poor recuperative potential. Therefore, they are not recommended for use in areas that are to be regularly used for sports and will have a lot of wear. In these areas the grass to tend to patch and will only recover very slowly.

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