Meyer
Z-52 zoysia is an improved strain
of zoysia japonica. It is a single plant selection taken from 50-odd selections
of common zoysia japonica grown from seed by the United States Department
of Agriculture in 1940. Meyer Z-52 zoysia was developed and released cooperatively
by the Crops Research Division, Agriculture Research Service, and the U.S.
Golf Association Green Section in 1951. The selection upon release was named
Meyer in honor of Frank N. Meyer, a plant explorer for the Department of
Agriculture, who made the first collection of zoysia seed in Korea in 1905.
Zoysia was named to commemorate Karl von Zois, an Austrian botanist of the
18th century.
Meyer Z-52 zoysia’s leaf width is between common zoysia japonica and
zoysia matrella. Meyer Z-52 zoysia is more cold tolerant than practically
all other varieties of zoysia. Established turf is quite dense and has a
dark green color during the growing season. After first frost, Meyer Z-52
zoysia turns a brownish yellow or blonde color. Meyer Z-52 zoysia must be
propagated vegetatively.
Advantages of Meyer Z-52 Zoysia
- Dense turf prevents weed invasion.
- Green dense turf in summer when cool-season
grasses are off-peak.
- Moderately shade tolerant.
- Good salt tolerance.
- Resists many insects and diseases.
- Heat tolerant.
- Good drought tolerance.
- Excellent wear tolerance.
- Tolerates close mowing.
- Excellent cold tolerance.
Meyer Z-52 zoysia is a premium lawn grass.
In recent years, Meyer Z-52 zoysia has grown in popularity as a fairway
and tee grass. Golf course superintendent’s find Meyer Z-52 zoysia
easy to manage due to low water requirements, superior cold tolerance, and
less mowing. It thrives in the transition zone where hot summers damage
cool season turf. To the golfer, Meyer Z-52 zoysia’s uniformity coupled
with its dense growth makes for an excellent lie for the golf ball, even
while dormant.
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