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How to Manage Pests

The UC Guide to Healthy Lawns

Seashore paspalum — Paspalum vaginatum

Photo of seashore paspalum

Qualities

Seashore paspalum is a very salt tolerant warm-season grass with desirable turfgrass characteristics. This specialty grass is sometimes used in warm-season areas where either the soil or irrigation water has a high salt content. It does well near the ocean where it is subject to saltwater. Improved cultivars have been developed.

Identifying tips

A medium to coarse-bladed grass with a dense root system and an aggressive growth habit. The leaves are rolled in the bud, there are no auricles, and a short, membranous ligule is present. This light to medium-colored grass spreads by rhizomes.

Maintenance

Moderate maintenance. Seashore paspalum requires moderate amounts of water and fertilizer and needs frequent mowing to maintain a low cut. This species is hard to mow and is somewhat slow to recover from mowing damage. It has a high tolerance for heat and salt and will tolerate some shade. Seashore paspalum can tolerate some traffic and can recover quickly from moderate wear during spring and summer.

Illustration of collar region of seashore paspalum
Collar of seashore paspalum
Illustration of overall plant of seashore paspalum
Overall plant structure of seashore paspalum

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