Kikuyu is a popular variety of lawn for both domestic and commercial use due to its affordable price and excellent durability. Kikuyu holds its colour well in most conditions, and makes an especially good lawn on large areas due to its high wearability, ability to recuperate, and high thatching tendency. Kikuyu can be found in most parks, ovals and reserves throughout Perth. An example of Kikuyu from WCT can be seen extensively around Kings Park, in particular the Kings Park War Memorial.

Kikuyu originated in the East African highlands. Its common name was derived in 1903 from the Kikuyu people of Kenya, who traditionally, lived east of the Aberdare Mountains, where the grass thrives. Kikuyu was introduced to Australia by seed in 1919 and then propagated vegetatively for more than 50 years.

• Low irritant
  
• Highly invasive
  
• Medium maintenance
  
• High thatching if not mown regularly
  
• Excellent tolerance to waterlogging
  
• Excellent wear, recuperative and green-up rate
  
• Good winter colour retention
  
• Excellent disease and pest resistance
  
• Requires minimum 5-6 hours direct sunlight daily
  
• Propagated from stolons (runners) or turf rolls

MAINTENANCE
Kikuyu should ideally be mown every 10-14 days at a height of approx. 12-16mm during summer and in winter mow every 3-5 weeks and raise the mowing height to approx. 16-20mm.

USES
Residential and commercial lawns for a hardy solid performer. High wearing areas such as parks, ovals, and schools, where the lawn is under constant vigorous use. Parks and gardens, sports ovals, soil stabilisation areas, roadsides, urban in-fill areas.