Zoysia Grass in the Shade

Zoysiagrass is a moderately shade-tolerant grass with high resistance to wear.Vicky Kasala Productions/Photodisc/Getty Images

Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) is a fine-to-medium textured, warm-season grass with a dark-green color. The grass has a slow rate of establishment and is best suited to the warmer regions. Zoysiagrass has a low water requirement and few pest issues. The grass thrives in areas of sun and has a moderate rate of tolerance for shade. Popular new varieties of zoysiagrass display the same level of shade tolerance and a faster rate of establishment. Zoysiagrsss is low maintenance and is very well tolerant of drought, heat and heavy traffic.

El Toro Zoysia

El Toro zoysia is medium grass with a dense growth that spreads by stolons. The variety is popularly used for a low-maintenance, hardy turf that has a good level of tolerance for areas of shade. The grass has a slow growth habit and is lighter in color than a number of other commonly used turfgrasses. El Toro thrives in areas of high heat and has a very high level of tolerance for wear. The low water requirements of El Toro make it an ideal grass variety for use on larger grounds. The grass goes dormant in winter.

Victoria zoysia is a bright-green colored, fine textured cultivar of zoysiagrass with a good tolerance for shade and a very good tolerance for drought and close mowing. The low-maintenance grass adapts very well to saline soil and saline water, making it one of the best choices for coastal areas. Victoria zoysia is popularly used in sports fields and golf courses, given its high tolerance for heat, humidity and drought. The grass requires less fertilizer, water, mowing and herbicides than a number of other warm-season grasses and keeps its color longer into fall and winter.

De Anza zoysia is blue-green in color and has a fine texture. The grass is low maintenance and retains is color longer into fall than a variety of other warm-season grasses. De Anza zoysia tolerates heat, drought and saline soil and displays a moderate level of shade tolerance. The low-growing grass produces a dense turf, which resists weeds. The dense, upright grass blades have a very high level of tolerance for wear. The grass has a very fast rate of establishment and responds well to close mowing.