Cultivars of Fine-textured Zoysiagrass
Belair
Belair is a zoysiagrass that was released by the University of Georgia in 1993. It is reported to be the most shade tolerant of the fine-textured zoysiagrasses. Belair has a dark green color with a fine texture.
Cavalier
Cavalier is a fine-textured zoysiagrass cultivar. It has a similar dark green color and good cold tolerance as Emerald, but it is less aggressive, slower growing and more shade tolerant than Emerald. Cavalier does not have rhizomes or stolons but spreads by tillering of underground stems called culms. The tillers are located at the grass base, allowing for close mowing. Cavalier also has good salt tolerance making it well suited for seaside locations in the southern United States.
Cavalier II
Cavalier II is a fine-textured zoysiagrass cultivar. Cavalier II has dark green color and finer texture than most other zoysiagrasses available in the market.
Celebration
The following cultivars of fine-textured zoysiagrass were introduced by the University of Georgia (UGA) in 1995. Cultivars include:
- Celebration – Very fine texture and dark green color. Has a vigorous, rapid growth rate, excellent cold tolerance, recommended for golf course fairways and highly tolerant to injury from low mowing heights. Tolerates light shade.
- El Toro – Very fine texture and dark green color with a vigorous, rapid growth rate and good cold tolerance. Recommended for golf course fairways and highly tolerant to injury from low mowing heights. Tolerates light shade.
- Emerald – Extremely fine texture and dark green color with a moderate growth rate, good cold tolerance , recommended for golf course fairways highly tolerant to injury from low mowing heights, but not as winter hardy as Celebration or El Toro.. Tolerates light shade.
- Palisades – Fine texture with dark green color and a moderate to slow growth rate with good cold tolerance . Not recommended for golf course fairways due to its slow growth habit; however it is more tolerant of low mowing height than other zoysiagrasses. Tolerates light shade.
Diamond
Diamond is a medium-fine textured cultivar of zoysia grass that has a dark green color. It can be grown in a variety of soil types and can tolerate moderate shade. It is most active in early spring and fall.
Diamond II
- Diamond II was selected from a zoysiagrass collection in Hawaii.
- Diamond II differs from other fine-textured cultivars because of its excellent shade tolerance and durability to traffic.
- This is the only fine-textured cultivar that has been found to grow well in the shade.
- It requires frequent mowing due to its upright growth habit, but this also makes it an excellent choice for golf course fairways.
Dolphin
Dolphin is a cultivar of fine-textured zoysiagrass.
El Toro
In addition to its aesthetic qualities, El Toro is a vigorous grower with outstanding wear tolerance and recuperative abilities. It has shown excellent overall performance in comparative studies conducted at North Carolina State University, Texas Greens Turfgrass Testing Center, Louisiana State University, Oklahoma State University, and the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). El Toro was “Best Overall” in NTEP trials, featuring all of the following qualities:
- Shade tolerance
- Disease resistance
- Drought tolerance
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
- Adaptability to different soil types
- Ability to recover from injury
Empire II
Empire II is a fine-textured zoysiagrass cultivar with a dark green color and moderate density. It spreads rapidly and exhibits good shade tolerance, but does not tolerate heavy traffic. Empire II is susceptible to several diseases such as anthracnose, necrotic ring spot, gray leaf spot and dollar spot.
Emerald
- Emerald has good shade tolerance, good wear tolerance, good heat tolerance, good cold tolerance and a high level of salt and drought tolerance.
- Because Emerald is a “slow grower” it has excellent recovery after injury. It also carries a high level of disease resistance.
Excelsior
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Golden Tide
- Golden Tide
This is a very fine-textured variety with rapid establishment, excellent cold tolerance and improved resistance to leaf spot disease. It’s about medium green in color.
Greenspire II
Greenspire II, a cultivar of Zoysia japonica, is similar to Emerald in its shade and traffic tolerance. However, Greenspire II proven less susceptible to leaf spot than Emerald. It has a medium green color but maintains a fine leaf texture. Drought and cold tolerance are similar to that of Emerald. Greenspire II possesses the same temperature range for growth as other Zoysiagrass species; however, it can survive temperatures down to −20 °F (−29 °C). Greenspire II is one of the most shade tolerant warm-season grasses.
Jackpot I and II
- Jackpot I is a fine-textured hybrid zoysiagrass developed at the University of Florida. Jackpot I was selected for its winter hardiness and improved summer green color when compared to other fine-textured selections.
- Jackpot II is also a fine-textured hybrid zoysiagrass developed at the University of Florida. Jackpot II was selected for its superior shade tolerance, good winter hardiness and excellent summer green color when compared to other fine-textured zoysiagrasses.
JaMur
Zoysia japonica (also known as “zoysiagrass”) is a perennial grass in the subfamily Panicoideae. This species is native to eastern Asia, commonly planted as an ornamental for its graceful form and tall, narrow leaves. The cultivars Zoysia japonica ‘Lanceleaf’ and Zoysia japonica ‘Senkou’ are popular for use in many landscaping applications, including home gardens, public parks, and commercial landscapes.
Zoysia japonica has been cultivated by humans for at least 4,000 years across central China (ZH) while it is believed that it may have been brought to Japan around 500 BC. It was also introduced to the Americas during colonial times through the introduction of buffalo hides by other countries in need of pelts that would be used to make blankets.
The main growing region for zoysia japonica includes Illinois (IL), Alabama (AL), Iowa (IA), Mississippi (MS), Kansas (KS), Arkansas (AR), Tennessee (TN), North Carolina(NC) and Indiana(IN).
Jade III, IV, and V (and other Jade cultivars) Cultivars of Fine-textured Zoysiagrass• Jade III, IV, and V (and other Jade cultivars) Cultivars of Fine-textured Zoysiagrass• Jade III, IV, and V (and other Jade cultivars) Cultivars of Fine-textured Zoysiagrass• Jade III, IV, and V (and other Jade cultivars) Cultivars of Fine-textured Zoysiagrass • Jade III, IV, and V (and other Jade culti
Jade I, II and other Jade cultivars have a very fine texture, high density and dark green color. They are very susceptible to brown patch disease.
Soil pH: 5.8-6.3
Mowing height: 0.5-1 in.; allow clippings to fall on turf (may require frequent verticutting)
Other notes: Susceptibility to large patch disease is less in 1/2 shade; not recommended for full shade areas