UC Healthy Lawns—Turf adaptations and tolerances

The UC Guide to Healthy Lawns

Turf adaptations and tolerances

Turf species best adapted to most California conditions
Turf species	Tolerance						Temperature adaptation	Planting method
Turf species	Heat	Cold	Drought	Shade	Salinity	Wear/ Traffic	Temperature adaptation	Planting method
Bermudagrass	High	Low	High	Low	High	High	Warm-season	Seed, sod, stolons, sprigs, plugs
Kentucky bluegrass*	Low	High	Low	Mod	Low	Mod	Cool-season	Seed, sod
Perennial ryegrass*	Low	High	Low	Low	Mod	High	Cool-season	Seed, sod
Red fescue*	Low	High	Mod	High	Low	Mod	Cool-season	Seed, sod
St. Augustinegrass	High	Low	Mod	High	High	Mod	Warm-season	Sod, stolons
Tall fescue	Mod-high	Mod	Mod	Mod	Mod	Mod-high	Cool-season	Seed, sod

Mod = Moderate

*When planted as a blended turf, this species may have higher tolerance for heat if properly managed.

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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