Scientific NamePaspalum notatum
Other Common Names:
Bahiagrass is low-growing perennial warm-season grass that spreads with stolons and stout, scaly rhizomes.
Leaves are flat or folded, tough-textured and are usually hairless. Leaf blades are 0.15-0.2 inches and 8-20 inches in length. Stems usually reach 8-30 inches tall. Bahiagrass has a membranous ligule (0.4mm long) with dense hairs on back.
Bahiagrass is easily identified by its "Y Shaped" seed head. It spread rapidly by rhizomes and stolons. It has a light green color, coarse texture and forms an open canopy. Bahiagrass is a prolific seed-producing plant.
Flower Seed Head
The seed head usually consists of a dual racemes with each attached to the top of a slender stem forming a V.
Seed is 3 to 4 mm long. It is green to brown in color.
Bahiagrass is a deep-rooted perennial adapted to a wide range of soils. Bahiagrass is most productive on sandy soils with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Bahiagrass is a native to South America. It was introduced to the southeastern United States primarily for forage, and erosion control. It is now frequently planted on roadsides and highway rightways because it has good drought tolerance.
Leaf Hair on Upper Surface
hairs on basal half only
folded in bud,
rolled in bud
Mature Leaf Width
less than 5 mm
less than 1 mm