zoysia

American  

[zoi-see-uh, -zee-uh, -shuh, -zhuh] / ˈzɔɪ si ə, -zi ə, -ʃə, -ʒə /

noun

1. any of several low-growing grasses of the genus Zoysia, especially Z. matrella, native to tropical Asia and widely used for lawns.

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zoysia British  

/ ˈzɔɪzɪə /

noun

1. any creeping perennial grass of the genus Zoysia, of warm dry regions, having short stiffly pointed leaves: often used for lawns

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Etymology

Origin of zoysia

1920–25; named after Karl von Zois (died 1800), German botanist; see -ia

Example Sentences

“The key out here is absolutely to get the ball in the fairway because playing out of this zoysia rough, you just have no clue what it’s going to do.”

From Washington Times • Oct. 21, 2023

So why doesn’t everyone have a zoysia lawn?

From Washington Post • Aug. 10, 2021

He mows them at two inches, but they can be kept shorter: three-quarters of an inch for bermudagrass, an inch for zoysia.

From Washington Post • Aug. 10, 2021

There, tour players faced a new strain of zoysia grass named for the club, which Kauff had tightly shaved everywhere to be firm, dry and springy.

From Golf Digest • Sep. 25, 2019

Josh’s zoysia: 18-year-old Mondo Duplantis, a prodigy from Louisiana who has been dubbed the “Tiger Woods of pole vaulting,” just won the European championship.

From Slate • Aug. 13, 2018