• Lawn grasses in Australia fall into three common types.lawn image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com
  
  A country as large as Australia, with its wide variety of climates ranging from tropical to alpine, would be expected to have a wide variety of grasses. However, according to the organization Gardening Australia, three common lawn grasses prevail. A number of plant varieties exist for each of these plant species. Anyone planning a new lawn in Australia should research the best types of grass for their location and know the lawn watering regulations before making any choice.
  
  

Couch Grass

• Couch grass (Cynodon dacrylon) is a perennial grass with green to grey colored leaves. Couch grass is considered a warm season grass that germinates when soil temperatures reach about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant grows in thick, coarse turf with low leaves. It is native to all parts of Australia and used in lawns in all states of the country. Common uses include lawns that will receive high traffic such as playgrounds or even sports fields. The Queensland Blue Couch variety is known for its intense silver color but requires full exposure to the sun to thrive. Queensland Blue does not tolerate freezing conditions and should only be planted in frost free zones. According to the Web site Yates.com.au, Couch grass is the most drought tolerant of the Australian lawn grasses.
  
  

Kikuyu Grass

• Kikuyu grass is not native to Australia but imported from tropical Africa. Kikuyu grass spreads by runners and is used in pastures and erosion control plantings as well as lawns. It is considered tolerant of both heat and drought and is rather coarse in appearance. Not commonly used for formal lawns, Kikuyu is also a warm season grass. The grass will exhibit its greatest growth in the hottest part of the summer.
  
  

Durban Grass

• Durban grass, often referred to as sweet smother grass, is commonly used in Queensland, Australia. Durban grass produces a green lawn rather than the silver tones of some other lawn grasses used in Australia. It thrives in harsh conditions but does not tolerate frost at all. It also is slow to rejuvenate the turf if damaged and is not commonly used in high traffic areas such as sports fields or playgrounds. Use Durban grass in shady lawn areas in warm climates. Avoid areas where frost is possible.