Occurrence, Distribution and Introduction of Zoysia spp. and their Management and Current Use in Australia

Zoysia species are native to Australia as part of the wider distribution of the genus around the western Pacific Rim. Three taxa – two subspecies of Zoysia macrantha and tropical material provisionally attributed to Z. matrella - are distributed naturally along the eastern and southern coasts, mostly in littoral or near-coastal situations. Z. matrella of the Asian type is found on distant off-shore island territories in the Indian Ocean, but has not been confirmed as native to mainland Australia. Taxonomic and agronomic studies of the native Zoysia germplasm are ongoing. Introductions of exotic Zoysia species have been made progressively since about the late 1950s, sometimes as seed but mostly as vegetatively propagated accessions. Nevertheless, Zoysia species remain minor warm-season turfgrasses in Australia, mainly grown in subtropical and tropical areas. In addition to at least four non-proprietary varieties, there are 16 zoysiagrass cultivars either registered or undergoing registration for Plant Breeder’s Rights in Australia. Interest in the native Zoysia germplasm is increasing, in part because of the local marketability of their native origin and evidence of superior drought and cold tolerance in some clones. This interest has led to the recent development of four cultivars from Z. macrantha.