Kikuyu grass, native to central Kenya, is known for its lush and dense green turf. It can grow well in moist environments but its deep root system allows the grass to also thrive in poor soils and hot and dry conditions.
The turf has strong resistance to pests and weeds making it an all-around hardy turf. Due to its quick foot traffic recovery, Kikuyu grass is a popular grass for use in areas like residential and commercial lawns, public parks, roadside drains, and sports fields.
Since its introduction to other continents like Australia in the early 1900s, the original Kikuyu grass has been bred to produce enhanced varieties that perform better in different climatic conditions.
Here is a list of the well-known different types of Kikuyu grass.
1. Common Kikuyu
- Best for: Residential and commercial lawns, parks, sports fields
Common Kikuyu, also known as Wild Kikuyu is the original form of kikuyu grass. It’s an aggressive and rapid-growing turf that forms a bright green, medium to coarse texture. It thrives in full sun and has excellent drought tolerance.
Due to its aggressive nature, it can easily crowd out other native plants and requires regular care to prevent it from invading other spaces, such as flower beds and gardens.
Common Kikuyu is highly resilient to heavy foot traffic, making it a popular turf for residential and commercial lawns and other areas like parks and sports fields.
2. Kenda Kikuyu
- Best for: Residential and commercial lawns, pathways, and golf courses
Kenda is one of the best types of Kikuyu grass. It is bred to be male sterile which means it produces fewer seeds, reducing its spreading capacity to unwanted areas. This trait also makes it a perfect turf for people with allergies.
Kenda has four times as many rhizomes as Common Kikuyu and other Kikuyu varieties, giving it excellent wear tolerance and rapid recovery abilities.
Its fast establishment, soft feet feel, and enduring bright green all-year-round colour make Kenda a popular turf for residential and commercial lawns, pathways, and golf courses.
3. Whittet Kikuyu
- Best for: Residential lawns, racecourses, and pasture fields
Developed in Australia, Whittet Kikuyu is a more uniform and taller variety of the Common Kikuyu. It retains all the hardy characteristics of the original grass but with better tolerance to shade. This makes it a good option for cooler areas that experience warmer summers.
While it’s a low-maintenance turf, clipping often leads to high seed production and can spread quickly to any available space. Regular mowing and keeping the edges well-defined can help maintain a lush turf.
It’s commonly used for residential lawns, racecourses, and pasture fields.
4. Village Green Kikuyu
- Best for: Homes, parks, sports fields, and schools
Village Green Kikuyu is a medium-coarse and emerald green turf. This hardy Kikuyu grass can easily recover from high traffic and excess wear due to its aggressive growth habit and deep-root system.
This turf has excellent pest and weed resistance, making it easy to maintain. It’s not only frost tolerant but also winter active, retaining its green colour throughout the year.
You’ll find Village Green in homes, parks, sports fields, and schools.
5. Zulu Kikuyu
- Best for: Parks, Schools, Roadsides, and Sportsfields
Like other variants, Zulu Kikuyu is an excellent choice for areas prone to high wear and tear like parks, schools, sports fields, and roadsides. The grass thrives best in full sun conditions and has high drought resistance.
However, it may struggle in colder climates and could yellow slightly in the colder months. Regular mowing and keeping well-marked edges can prevent the aggressively growing grass from invading adjacent gardens or flower beds.
As you consider the best type of Kikuyu grass for your needs, keep in mind that these varieties may come in different names. Inquiring from your sod dealer for more information on your selection is the best way to avoid confusion.
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.