Paspalum notatum aka Bahia Grass

Paspalum notatum, or bahiagrass, is a perennial grass from South America. Its native range runs from Peru to Brazil and northern Argentina. It grows in pastures, savannahs, and other open ground. Farmers brought it to Florida around 1913 for livestock feed. It suits warm regions with a dry season.

This fast-growing grass creeps outward to form mats or clumps. The cover is pale green, coarse, and often rather open. Uncut leaves reach about 1 foot (0.3 m) high. Flower stems can reach 2 feet (0.6 m). Another account gives stem lengths of 0.5–1.6 feet (0.15–0.5 m). Low, spreading stems root at their nodes and make new shoots. Deep roots can reach 6.6–8.2 feet (2–2.5 m) into soil.

The narrow leaves grow in turn along straight, round, green stems. Each blade has smooth edges and a sharp tip. Blades reach 1 foot (0.3 m) long. They may look folded and have sparse hairs near the base. The leaf sheath is glossy, open, and sharply creased. Summer flowers grow on two slender racemes that form a V. Each raceme holds many tiny spikelets. Wind carries the pollen. The grain-like fruits, called caryopses, appear in summer and fall.

Full sun suits this grass, though it also tolerates shade. One tropical source reports better growth with some shade. It prefers sandy loam, good drainage, and acid soil. It also grows in poor soils and withstands drought. Reports also note some salt tolerance and survival through brief flooding. North Carolina State lists it for USDA zones 8–10. Dormant roots may survive about -10°C, but -1°C can badly harm new growth. Seed and division both offer ways to start plants. Once established, the grass needs little upkeep.

Bahiagrass feeds grazing animals and helps hold soil along roadsides. Meadows and naturalized areas are other uses. Sources differ on its worth as a lawn grass. One values its wear tolerance; another notes sparse cover and hard-to-mow seed heads. It has few major pest or disease problems. Yet it can spread into lawns and pastures as a weed. North Carolina lists it as invasive. Established plants spread strongly through their creeping stems. Useful Tropical Plants reports no known human food or medicinal uses. That source also lists no known hazards, but does not establish safety for every use.