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| ## seashore paspalum {#seashore-paspalum .Title-Header}               |
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| *Paspalum vaginatum* Sw.                                              |
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| Plant Symbol = PAVA                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

### ![](media/image2.png){width="2.6972222222222224in" height="3.5131944444444443in"}

### Alternate Names

None

### Uses 

Seashore paspalum is used as a forage food for cattle and horses. It is
grazed from March to November and the green stolons are eaten during the
winter months. It is also used by wild geese for feed.

*Paspalum vaginatum* is used in commercial and residential landscaping.
This plant has been very successful for golf courses all around the
world, especially in the coastal states and in other areas near brackish
or high saline waters. It is considerably more salt tolerant than other
standard golf course turf so it can be irrigated with salt water, which
saves an enormous amount of money used in the desalinization of the
water used for irrigation. Because seashore paspalum grows low to the
ground,

it has a high tolerance for traffic and wear. It grows rapidly which
provides a thick turf and competes against weeds when maintained
properly.

*Paspalum vaginatum* has other important uses such as erosion control,
wetland restorations, and site reclamation on oil and gas well sites.

### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

### Description

*General*: Grass Family (Poaceae). Seashore paspalum is a native, warm
season, creeping perennial. Culms are erect, smooth at the nodes and
range in heights of 1-7.9 dm. Sheaths are glabrous, overlapping and
scantily pubescent apically. Blades range in lengths of 2.5--15 cm and
in widths of 3 --8 mm, which may be flat or folded inward length wise.
Blades are mostly glabrous having a sparse amount of long hairs located
on the top surface close to the base. Ligules are 1-2 mm in length.
Racemes are usually in numbers of 2-3 and range in lengths of 1.1-7.9
cm. They are erect and spreading at maturity. Axes are winged, smooth,
1-2 mm wide and have scabrous margins. Spikelets are solitary, glabrous,
elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, faint-stramineous in color, 3-4.5 mm long
and 1.1-2 mm wide. First glume seldom developed, usually absent. The
second glume and sterile lemma are 3-nerved with the nerves suppressed.
The fertile floret is comose and white in color. The caryopsis is yellow
and is approximately 3 mm long.

### Distribution

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site.

### Adaptation 

Seashore paspalum inhabits brackish sand areas and saline areas along
the coasts that stretch from North Carolina down to Florida and over to
Texas. It is found as far south as Argentina and in the warm regions of
the Eastern Hemisphere. It is suited for compacted inorganic marsh soils
of average salinity and flourishes when water levels are fluctuated
between 2 inches above the surface to 6 inches below the soil surface.
However, it can withstand more than 2 inches of water above the soil
surface during the winter season.

### Establishment 

It is propagated asexually using stolons and rhizomes. Since seeds are
seldom available, seashore paspalum is available in sprigs, plugs and
sod.

For optimum results, plant 3 bushels of sprigs per 1000 square feet
during late spring or summer. It prefers a pH above 6.0 and should be
mowed after the first 60-90 days after planting.

### Management 

In managing Seashore paspalum for forage, it is recommended that less
than 50% of the present year's production by weight be grazed. In
addition, a 90-day suspension of grazing is implemented to improve the
strength of the crop and to obtain a forage reserve. Overgrazing is
usually not a problem because this forage grows flat on the ground.

In managing Seashore paspalum for landscape or golf courses, a low level
of Nitrogen, about 3 to 4 pounds per 1000 square feet per year, is
recommended. Fertilizer should be applied during the fall to prevent
scalping. Studies have proven that it produces higher shoot densities
when mowed at lower heights. This in turn provides a better playing
surface and an attractive appearance.

Seashore paspalum is considered invasive to the Hapuna Golf Course in
Hawaii where they are using Bermuda grasses. Seashore paspalum is
out-competing their established Bermuda turf. They will be conducting a
three-year study on how to get seashore paspalum off their course.

Seashore paspalum is vulnerable to insects, such as armyworms and
webworms eating and damaging the foliage.

### Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Although seeds are produced several times during the year, they are
rarely viable. SALAM and ADALYD (also known as EXCALIBRE) are varieties
of seashore paspalum, which are used on golf courses located around the
world. SALAM is glossy on the bottom side of the leaf, which allows the
courses to be mowed and have a striped appearance.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

### References

## Allen, C.M. 1992. *Grasses of Louisiana*. 2^nd^ ed. Cajun Prairie Habitat Preservation Society, Monroe, Louisiana. 230 p.

Duble, R.L. 1999. *Seashore paspalum*. Texas Agr. Extension Service. The
Texas A&M University System, College Station, Texas.
\<http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/publications/seashore.html\>

Environmental Turf Solutions, Inc. 1999. *Products and
Services---Seashore Paspalum*. \<http://www.etsturf.com/products.html\>

Hawaii Golf Course Superintendents Association 1999. *Hawaii golf course
superintendents association news*.
\<http://www.hawaii-golf.com/hgcsa.html\>

Hitchcock, A.S. 1950. *Manual of the Grasses of the United States*.
2^nd^ ed. (revised by Agnes Chases.) U.S. Dept. of Agr. Misc. Publ. 200.
603 p.

## 

## Leithead, H. L., L. L. Yarlett, & T. N. Shiflet 1971. *100 native forage grasses in 11 southern states*. U.S. Dept. Agr. Handbook No. 389. 143 p.

Seeds West 1999. *Warm season turfgrass infosheet*.
\<http://www.seedswest.com/infoshet.htm\>

University of Florida 1999. *Aquatic, wetland and invasive plant
particulars and photographs*. Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants,
Gainesville, Florida. 29nov2000.
\<http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/pasvag.html\>

Woerner Sports Turf International 1999. *SALAM -- seashore paspalum*.
Brookfield, Georgia. \<http://woernersports.com/salam.htm\>

### Prepared By

*Marya Gates*

Formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

### Species Coordinator

*Mike Materne*

Lousiana State University, Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Edited: 18jan01 jsp;10feb03 ahv; 10aug03jsp; 060802 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
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