Turf
Kikuyu grass
Cenchrus clandestinus · Poaceae
Also called: Kikuyugrass, Pennisetum clandestinum (former name)
Kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus) is a low-water turf well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun.
Kikuyu grass at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun; tolerates only light shade
- Mature size
- Low coarse turf if mowed (mow 1-2 in); unmowed it mounds 4-12+ in and spreads indefinitely via runners
- Growth rate
- Very fast/aggressive; spreads rapidly by thick rhizomes and stolons and builds heavy thatch
- Bloom
- Whitish stamens/styles barely emerging from sheaths (inconspicuous), Warm season; flowers are nearly hidden (clandestine) at the leaf bases — hence the name
- Cold hardiness
- Warm-season grass; frost burns the top growth and it goes dormant (tan) in Tucson winters, recovering vigorously in spring. Hardy in 9a-9b
- Soil
- Very adaptable; grows in most Tucson soils including alkaline, sandy, or compacted ground. No amendment needed; thrives on neglect
- Native range
- East African highlands (Kenya/Ethiopia region); introduced and considered invasive/weedy in many areas
- Best used as
- Tough utility/erosion-control turf, Slopes and large low-maintenance areas, Traffic-tolerant ground cover
- Wildlife
- Low wildlife value; an aggressive monoculture
- Toxicity
- Foliage is generally non-toxic to pets and children. Caution: under certain stress conditions kikuyu can accumulate nitrates and has been associated with poisoning in grazing livestock, but this is not a concern for typical residential turf use
How to grow Kikuyu grass in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought-tolerant once established — deep, infrequent watering (about 1 in every 1-2 weeks in summer) keeps it green; survives extended dry periods by going dormant and recovering quickly. Aggressive growth and recovery mean it needs little supplemental water in Tucson, but it will spread faster with more water.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Low to moderate feeder; it is already very vigorous, so keep nitrogen modest — about 1-3 lb actual N per 1,000 sq ft per year during the warm season is plenty. Excess N accelerates already-aggressive spread and thatch. Iron corrects alkaline-soil chlorosis.
Pruning & care
Mow frequently (at 1-2 in) during the warm season to control its coarse, fast growth and thatch; dethatch periodically. Edge and barrier regularly — it readily invades flower beds, lawns, and pavement cracks.
Notes
Extremely vigorous, drought- and traffic-tolerant warm-season grass that is widely regarded as an invasive weed — it is on noxious/invasive lists in California and is difficult to contain because of its aggressive rhizomes/stolons. In Tucson it is far more often a weed problem in bermuda/fescue lawns than a deliberate planting. Generally NOT recommended for new landscapes; if encountered, expect it to spread into beds and adjacent turf. Goes winter-dormant (tan) with frost. Mention to clients primarily for identification and control rather than installation.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (turf/weed identification); University of California IPM (kikuyugrass weed management); AMWUA / regional turf guidance; Wikipedia / Plants of the World Online (taxonomy: Cenchrus clandestinus syn. Pennisetum clandestinum)