Noshiba (Japanese lawngrass)
Zoysia japonica
The native zoysia found on riverbanks, parks and embankments across Japan. The blade is coarse, but it takes heavy traffic and cold well and asks for very little care — the default choice for greening a large area cheaply.
At a glance
| Family | Poaceae |
|---|---|
| Season type | Warm-season |
| Heat tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Cold tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Shade tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Wear tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Drought tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Mowing height | 20–40 mm |
| Propagation | Seed / Sod |
| Upkeep | Low upkeep |
| Native range | Japan, Korean Peninsula, China |
Growing conditions
| USDA hardiness zones | 5–10 |
|---|---|
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Watering | Low |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Common problems | Large patch / Weed invasion / White grubs |
How to grow it
Climate and sun
A warm-season grass native to Japan, and the toughest of the Japanese lawn grasses for both cold and drought. It overwinters outdoors well into northern Honshu. It wants full sun; in low light the blades lie flat and the turf coarsens.
Planting
Establish from sod or from seed, ideally in spring to early summer. It takes on rough ground and banks, so levelling and laying is often all it needs. Its wear tolerance suits large gardens, parks and the edges of sports grounds.
Watering
Almost none once established. In a summer with weeks of no rain, water deeply in the morning. Frequent shallow watering only keeps the roots near the surface.
Mowing
The blades are broad, so keep it long — 20–40 mm, once or twice a month. Cut it low and you expose bare stems and lose the look.
Feeding
Twice a year, in late spring and early autumn, is plenty. Overfeeding makes it lanky and weedy-looking, which throws away the low-input character that makes it worth planting.
Problems and winter
It resists disease well, though wet weather plus heavy feeding can bring large patch. Because it is used in low-maintenance settings, weed invasion is the real enemy. It browns off in winter; a short cut before spring green-up speeds the recovery.