Manila Grass Plant Care
Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr., commonly known as Manila grass, is a species of mat-forming, perennial grass native to temperate coastal southeastern Asia and northern Australasia, from southern Japan, Taiwan, and southern China south through Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to northern Australia, and west to the Cocos Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean.
Full sun
At a glance
How do you care for Manila Grass?
Manila Grass grows best in full sun.
What Is the Manila Grass?
Manila Grass (Zoysia matrella) belongs to the Poaceae family within the Zoysia genus. Manila Grass is also known as Philippine Velvet Grass, Korean Lawngrass, Zoysia Grass.
Manila Grass displays a fine-textured turfgrass growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Manila Grass produces produces inconspicuous flowers.
What Light Does the Manila Grass Need?
Manila Grass thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Manila Grass?
Well-draining sandy loam soil. Good drainage is essential for Manila Grass to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Manila Grass?
Rarely needs repotting as it is a turfgrass. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Manila Grass?
Manila Grass can be propagated through seeds, plugs, sod. Similar propagation techniques also apply to japanese lawngrass plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Manila Grass Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Manila Grass, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Manila Grass?
Manila Grass is susceptible to dollar spot, brown patch, armyworms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Manila Grass is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Zoysia genus — compare its care with other Zoysia species on PlantoScan.
Zoysia is part of the Poaceae plant family — browse all Poaceae genera and species.
Manila Grass thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr., family Poaceae (first published in Philipp. J. Sci., C 7: 230 (1912)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Manila Grass, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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