Axonopus fissifolius
Caratao grass · Common carpet grass · Carpet grass · Common Carpetgrass · Durringtongrass
Description
Source: leafsnapCarpet Grass (Axonopus fissifolius) is normally sown from seed in the spring. It spreads swiftly through creeping stolons, covering an area in a year or two. It is most suited for difficult settings where typical grasses will not grow, such as marshy or shady regions, or areas with poor soil. Carpet Grasses survive in warm, dark, infertile areas that are challenging for other grass species, despite the fact that they don't make a lush, thick lawn. You should expect them to brown more quickly, look messy with huge seed stalks and heads, and create a patchwork lawn.
Care Guide
💧 Water Every 5-7 days
Carpet Grass thrives in moist (but not damp) environments although dislikes standing water for long periods of time. It will require regular irrigation in drier soils and sunny circumstances. Although narrowleaf carpetgrass is slightly more drought-tolerant than broadleaf carpetgrass, it is still unsuitable for drought-prone areas unless irrigated regularly.
☀️ Light Full sun
Common carpetgrass thrives in full sun, which greatly supports its best growth and overall health. It can, however, tolerate reduced light, showing some adaptability to different lighting conditions. Even so, excessive shade or too much sun can hinder its healthy development.
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C
Common carpetgrass naturally grows in environments with temperatures between 70 to 100 ℉ (21 to 38 ℃). The plant favors a range of 68 to 100 ℉ (20 to 38 ℃) and may have trouble in colder conditions. In colder seasons, consider adjusting the plant’s surroundings to maintain a minimum temperature of 68 to 75 ℉ (20 to 24 ℃).
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer
Common carpetgrass is a cool-season grass that mainly grows in spring and fall. It becomes dormant in winter and its growth slows in summer. Applying suitable fertilizers in spring can add nutrients and encourage vigorous, dense growth. Well-fed lawns are greener, more resilient, and better able to resist pests and weeds.
🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
Mowing your carpetgrass on a regular basis throughout the summer months has two major benefits. First, because the seed heads are tall, unattractive, and rapid to form, they will keep your lawn from becoming unkempt. Second, mowing before the seeds emerge will keep the grass from growing into undesirable locations. Although Carpet Grass can withstand very close mowing (down to 3/4 of an inch), the healthiest growth is achieved when it is kept at a height of roughly 2 inches.
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Carpet grass has no known toxic traits to either humans or animals. It is considered safe for children and pet-friendly, making it ideal for nearly any household.
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Grass
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Hardiness Zone
- 9-11
- Mature Height
- 15 cm to 49 cm
- Mature Spread
- 61 cm to 76 cm
- Leaf Color
- Light Green, Green
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
- Flower Color
- Green, Yellow
- Flower Size
- 3.05 cm
- Bloom Time
- Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
- Planting Time
- Spring
- Harvest Time
- Late summer, Fall, Early winter
- Native Area
- Belize, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Uruguay, Colombia, Cuba, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Suriname, Costa Rica