Poaceae
Cenchrus ciliaris
Buffel grass
G
Not currently in the nursery
We can propagate most native species on request — get in touch to discuss timeline and quantity.
About
This is a tufted perennial grass, forming tussocks up to 2 metres tall, with linear green to bluish-green leaves. Its distinctive bristly, spike-like flowerheads can be straw-coloured, grey, or purple. Widely used for livestock pasture and erosion control, it is notable for its exceptional drought tolerance but can become invasive in new environments.
Where it works in Kilifi
Suitable for full sun in a Kilifi-coast garden, it thrives in well-drained, sandy soils. It is excellent for erosion control or as a hardy lawn grass, owing to its drought tolerance, but its tussock-forming habit requires consideration for spacing.
Growing notes
This fast-growing, drought-tolerant grass requires deep but infrequent watering once established and is very tolerant of grazing and fire. Caution is advised as it can be highly flammable and is considered invasive in many regions.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: feedipedia.org, iucngisd.org, sanbi.org, wikipedia.org, mcdowellsonoran.org, farmspace.co.za. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.