1. Will Sea Isle grow with potable water?
Yes. As with any other warm season grass, proper management is the key to success with this grass.

2. Does this grass look like bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) or dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum)?
No. Those two grasses are bunch-types. Sea Isle (Paspalum vaginatum) is a prostrate-growing, rhizomatous, stoloniferous grass that resembles bermudagrass.

3. What kind of leaf texture does this grass have?
The grass ranges from very coarse ornamental types to coarse types resembling St. Augustine grass to intermediate types resembling common bermuda grass to very fine types like the hybrid bermudagrasses. This grass takes on a chameleon - like nature as the mowing height is lowered, transforming from longer internodes and wider leaves during the grow-in phase to very short internodes and smaller, finer leaves when the mowing height reaches 3mm.

4. Is the color light or dark green?
Sea Isle has a darker green color than most bermudas when mowed at the same height as the bermudas. The leaves have a heavy wax load on them that gives the appearance of a glisteny, shiny green luster.

5. Does a lot of morning dew settle on the greens?
No. Because of the heavy wax load and lack of leaf hairs on the leaves, very little moisture accumulates on Sea Isle. Bermudagrass will look white with heavy morning dew. Sea Isle will look bright green.

6. Does Sea Isle have a thatch problem?
As long as fertiliser nitrogen is applied at less than 2.5kg/100msq per annum and irrigation scheduling is appropriate, thatch buildup will normally be minimal. Most Sea Isle sports turf use will require one or two verticutting/slicing events annually.

7. Does Sea Isle have drought tolerance?
Yes. As long as irrigation scheduling is infrequent and of sufficient duration to promote deep rooting. Light, short duration irrigation schedules will keep the roots shallow (this grass is highly responsive to its microenvironment), and will diminish its drought tolerance capability.

8. Can you actually use ocean water for irrigation?
Yes. With proper management of the salts.

9. Can this grass be covered with water and still survive?
Yes. If floods or storm surges in coastal areas or rising water tables in low areas persist, this grass will survive. It loves low, boggy, "wet-feet" areas.

10. Why is this grass not well known in the turf industry?
The dominance of bermudagrass and the development of hybrid bermudagrasses really brought recognition to turf quality, cosmetic appearance, and performance traits in the warm season grasses. Water was plentiful and fertiliser was cheap in the 20th century. The advent of environmental concerns/compliance and water quality/quantity issues are changing the turf industry in the 21st century. Sea Isle will be the primary turfgrass to emerge in a new era of environmental stewardship.

11. What is the origin for this grass?
All the fine-textured types evolved on sand dunes in South Africa and have been transported to other countries. A secondary center of origin is thought to be Argentina-Brazil coastal areas.