Buffalo grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Poaceae
📷 Kevin Thiele from Perth, Australia · CC BY 2.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around buffalo grass and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Persistent, dark green
- Flowering
- Discrete spikes in summer
- Adult size
- 20 to 40 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast and vigorous
- Hardiness
- Frost-tender, prefers warm to temperate climates
- Origin
- Tropical and subtropical Africa
- Soil type
- Well-drained, tolerates poor soils
Expert tips
The key tip
Le Stenotaphrum a besoin d'une humidité régulière mais redoute la stagnation : arrosez quand le substrat commence à sécher en surface, sans laisser d'eau stagnante qui déclenche des pourritures racinaires. En pot, un drainage impeccable est non-négociable, en pleine terre il prospère dans les sols légèrement humides mais drainants.
The common mistake
La plupart des jardiniers croient que cette graminée aime rester mouillée en permanence et l'arrosent excessivement, ce qui provoque des pourritures racinaires et des taches foliaires fongiques qui tuent la plante bien avant la sécheresse.
The pro's trick
Taillez régulièrement le feuillage 2 à 3 fois par an pour maintenir une forme compacte et stimuler la ramification : la plante gère mal les grandes haies fournies, elle devient creuse et disgracieuse. Une coupe légère tous les deux mois donne bien meilleur rendu qu'une taille sévère d'un coup.
Care
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season to keep the soil slightly moist, without waterlogging. In winter or dormancy period, reduce watering. This grass tolerates dry periods once established, but grows better with moderate moisture.
Light Exposure
Expose your buffelgrass to full sun or partial shade. Generous light promotes dense growth and well-colored foliage. In very hot regions, light afternoon shade in summer can prevent excessive water stress.
Pruning and Cutting
Prune regularly to maintain a compact shape and encourage lateral development. A spring cut rejuvenates the clump. You can perform light mowing or cutting throughout the growing season to control its spread.
Fertilizing
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring to support vigorous growth. A light application every two months during the active period is plenty. Avoid excess nitrogen, which would promote soft growth susceptible to disease.
Soil
Buffelgrass adapts to most well-drained soils. A substrate rich in organic matter promotes better growth, but this grass also tolerates poor soils. Ensure no waterlogging persists, especially in containers.
Diseases and Pests
This grass is generally hardy and robust. Excess standing moisture can encourage fungal leaf diseases or root rot. Watch for scale insects indoors. Good air circulation and proper watering usually prevent most problems.
Did you know?
Buffelgrass is highly valued in tropical and subtropical landscaping for creating ornamental, resilient lawns. Its common name refers to its robustness and ability to tolerate trampling and difficult conditions—characteristics that make it an ideal grass for public spaces and playgrounds in warm regions.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Tufted hair grassDeschampsia cespitosa
- Wavy hair-grassAvenella flexuosa
- Purple moor-grassMolinia caerulea
- Reed canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
- Common quaking grassBriza media
- Creeping soft-grassHolcus mollis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.