Kikuyu
Cenchrus clandestinus
A vigorous, hard-wearing warm-season grass that spreads fast by runners above and below ground. Great for heavy use in full sun; it needs edging to keep it out of garden beds.
Also called: Pennisetum clandestinum, Kikuya, Eureka
- Type
- Warm-season grass
- Shade tolerance
- Low
- Wear tolerance
- High
- Drought tolerance
- Medium
- Maintenance
- High
Short answer
Kikuyu is a fast-growing, hard-wearing warm-season grass that suits sunny yards with heavy use. It spreads quickly by runners above and below ground, so it recovers from wear but needs regular mowing and edging. It needs 5 to 6 hours of direct sun a day and browns off in cold winters.
Overview
Kikuyu is the grass for a yard that gets used hard: kids, dogs and backyard cricket. It grows fast, recovers quickly from wear, and fills bare patches on its own.
The trade-off is that it never stops trying to spread. Its runners travel above and below ground, so it will invade garden beds unless you edge it, and fragments of runner in clippings can take root wherever they land. It also needs plenty of sun.
Suitability ratings on this page are general guidance. [CONFIRM: reviewer to confirm climate suitability ratings]
How to identify kikuyu
- Leaves
- Medium-width, soft leaves, slightly hairy, on thick runners.
- Colour
- Bright to mid green in the growing season.
- Growth
- Spreads by thick runners on the surface (stolons) and underground (rhizomes), and recovers quickly from wear.
- Feel
- Medium texture, springy when kept short.
Climate suitability
| Climate zone | Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical | Suited | |
| Subtropical | Well suited | |
| Warm temperate | Well suited | |
| Temperate | Suited | Browns off and slows over winter. |
| Cool and highland (including Tasmania) | Marginal | |
| Arid and inland | Suited | Needs reliable watering. |
Sun and shade: Low shade tolerance
The Turf Growers Association of WA lists kikuyu as needing at least 5 to 6 hours of direct sun a day.
Wear: High
Described by the Turf Growers Association of WA as having excellent wear, recovery and green-up.
Drought: Medium
Described as drought tolerant by the Turf Growers Association of WA.
Maintenance: High
Grows fast in the warm months, so it needs frequent mowing and regular edging. Runner fragments in clippings can take root in garden beds.
Mowing heights by season
| Season | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | 12–16 mm | Western Australian figures from the Turf Growers Association of WA. |
| Winter | 16–20 mm | TGAWA figure. |
Kikuyu builds up thatch quickly if it's allowed to grow long between mows. Mow often enough that you never take off more than a third of the leaf. [CONFIRM: reviewer to confirm LawnMan's recommended mowing range for kikuyu outside WA]
Feeding and watering
Fertilising
Feed in the growing season at the label rate. Kikuyu responds strongly to nitrogen, which also means more mowing.
Watering
Water deeply and less often once established, within your local water rules.
Common weeds, pests and diseases in kikuyu
Popular questions about kikuyu
Guides
- application guideHow to apply granular lawn fertiliser
- application guideHow to apply lawn grub and armyworm treatments
- application guideApplying liquid fertiliser
- application guideApplying pre-emergent herbicide
- application guideHow to apply a lawn wetting agent
- GuideGrowing grass in shade: what works, what doesn't and what to do instead
Lawn Journal reminders for kikuyu
Add a ready-made reminder to your Lawn Journal. It's stored on this device until you sign in.
Common questions
How do I stop kikuyu getting into my garden beds?
Keep a clean, edged gap or a solid edge between lawn and beds, edge regularly, and don't put clippings with runners into garden mulch or compost you'll spread on beds.
Didn't answer your question?
Ask LawnMan. We check existing answers first, and if nothing fits, your question goes on our list to answer.
Who wrote this, and what it's based on
This page hasn't been reviewed by our technical reviewer yet [CONFIRM: reviewer]. Until it is, it isn't listed in search engines. How we write and review
Sources
- Turf varieties, Turf Growers Association of Western AustraliaKikuyu: sunlight, wear, drought and mowing heights. Accessed 3 October 2026.
- Kikuyu, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentRunners spread rapidly in favourable conditions. Accessed 4 October 2026.
- Managing garden weeds: creeping plants (factsheet), NSW Department of Primary IndustriesKikuyu and couch as weeds of garden beds. Accessed 4 October 2026.