Bahia

Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) is a warm-season perennial grass native to South America, but widely used in the southern United States and other warm climates. It’s known for being tough, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance, making it a popular choice for lawns, pastures, and erosion control.

Here’s a quick overview:

🌿 Key Characteristics

• Texture: Coarse blades with a light to medium green color 
• Growth habit: Spreads by rhizomes and seed; forms a dense, durable sod 
• Height: Typically maintained between 2–4 inches for lawns 
• Seedheads: Have a distinctive “Y” or “V” shape (two spikes on top of a tall stem)
   

🌞 Ideal Conditions

• Climate: Thrives in warm, humid regions (zones 7–11) 
• Soil: Grows well in sandy, low-fertility soils 
• Sunlight: Needs full sun; does poorly in shade 
• Water: Very drought-tolerant once established
   

⚙️ Maintenance Tips

• Mowing: Keep at about 3 inches; avoid cutting too short 
• Fertilization: Low nutrient requirements — too much nitrogen can cause thinning 
• Weed control: Can be tricky, since Bahia grass is sensitive to some herbicides
   

🚜 Common Uses

• Residential and rural lawns in the southern U.S. 
• Pastures and roadside plantings 
• Soil stabilization and erosion control