Cynodon dactylon

Species common name
Green couch

Cultivar name
Oz-E-Green

Trademark (brand name for marketing)
Oz Tuff

Chance seedling selected from 'common' green couch at a Childers turf farm in 2001. Breeder: Bill Morrow, Childers, Queensland.

Available from licensed suppliers in Queensland (Mackay-Gold Coast) and Victoria. Further Australian outlets to be licensed.
Stock sent to USA for evaluation.

Australian Plant Breeder's Rights (PBR) certificate #2844 (granted 22 August 2005)

Texture
Fine.

Description
Dark green leaves. Stolon leaf blade 5.6-11.6 mm and leaf width 2.0-2.6 mm at fourth visible node from stolon tip. (Data from PBR growing trial.) Dense prostrate habit and limited seed head production.

Use
Residential, commercial/industrial, parks and sportsfields. May be used in low-maintenance areas such as roadside verges, drains and traffic islands. Suitable for moderately salt-affected sites (e.g. foreshore plantings).

Mowing height
18-25 mm in summer; 25-30 mm in winter. Can be cut lower without scalping due to prostrate growth habit.

Method of propagation
Vegetative sod, sprigging of stolons.

Preferred soil types
Grows on a wide variety of soil types.

Comments
Very short height and low level of heading, which helps to reduce mowing requirements. Manage thatch.

Heat
Good heat tolerance.

Cold
Has been grown in southern Australia (Victoria).

Shade
Poor shade tolerance. Best in full sun like most Cynodon dactylon genotypes, with a minimum of 70% full sunlight required to avoid loss of sward density.

Drought
Good tolerance of dry conditions.

Salinity

• High salinity tolerance relative to other Cynodon dactylon cultivars in salinity screening trials in Queensland, and comparable to FLoraTeX which has performed best in similar US trials.
• Suitable for planting on moderately saline sites, but other more salt-tolerant (halophytic) turf species (e.g. Paspalum vaginatum) required for more highly saline sites.
• Can be irrigated with recycled water.

Wear
Yet to be formally assessed. Has been trialled in soccer goal mouths.

Herbicide sensitivity
DSMA and MSMA can be used to remove other grasses. A wide range of herbicides can be safely used to remove broadleaf weeds. Use only registered herbicides in accordance with label directions.