Empire, Zeon, and JaMur Zoysia cut fresh from a Louisiana sod farm and delivered to your address. Premium variety, contractor pricing on volume.
| Botanical name | Zoysia japonica and Zoysia matrella |
| Cultivars we supply | Empire (japonica), Zeon (matrella), JaMur (japonica) |
| USDA Zones | 6 through 9 (excellent across Louisiana) |
| Sun requirement | Full sun to medium shade |
| Shade tolerance | Medium |
| Traffic tolerance | High (best of any warm-season sod we supply) |
| Mow height | 1 to 2 inches (Zeon mows shorter) |
| Drought tolerance | High once rooted |
| Pallet coverage | Approximately 450 square feet |
| Best install windows | April-June, September-October |
| Establishment time | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Pricing tier | High (premium) |
Zoysia is a warm-season grass native to East Asia, brought to the United States by the USDA in the late 1800s. Zoysia japonica is the broader-bladed type. Zoysia matrella is finer and denser. Both species fit Louisiana's climate well, and the LSU AgCenter turfgrass guide lists Zoysia as the premium pick for Louisiana homeowners who want a tighter looking lawn that holds up to traffic.
The variety thrives across Louisiana's USDA Zones 6 through 9 footprint. Drought tolerance once rooted beats St. Augustine. Foot traffic tolerance beats every other warm-season sod we supply. The trade-off is establishment time. Zoysia takes 4 to 6 weeks to root in versus 2 to 3 for St. Augustine.
You will find Zoysia in newer subdivisions across Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Lafayette, Greater Baton Rouge, and the Lakeside corridor of Jefferson Parish. It is the homeowner upgrade pick when the budget supports a premium variety and the yard sees real traffic from kids, pets, or weekend cookouts.
Three cultivars cover most Louisiana yards. The choice comes down to blade texture, mow height, and how fast you need the lawn to spread.
Best for: Standard residential, family yards, kids and pets, drought-prone full-sun areas
The Louisiana workhorse cultivar. Medium-coarse blade, fast spread for a Zoysia, lower maintenance than Zeon. Shows up in Lakeside in Metairie, Mandeville new builds, Youngsville and Broussard subdivisions, North Oaks in Hammond, and along the I-12 corridor.
Mow height: 1.5 to 2 inches
Best for: Premium residential, country club style, manicured lawns, golf course aesthetic
Finer blade than Empire, denser canopy, better shade tolerance, mows lower for that tight putting-green look. Shows up in higher-end installs around Metairie Country Club, Garden District renovations, premium Lafayette Parish builds.
Mow height: 1 to 1.5 inches (reel mower for best results)
Best for: Bigger jobs, fast establishment, builder spec on multi-lot developments
Spreads faster than Empire, fills in faster, holds up well to construction wear, slightly coarser blade. Shows up in new construction across Ascension Parish, multi-lot Tangipahoa subdivisions, contractor specs where establishment timeline matters.
Mow height: 1.5 to 2 inches
From mainstream Empire to ultra-premium Zeon and the newer 2019-2020 NTEP top performers like Innovation, Trinity LS, and Abaco. Click any cultivar for detail.
Salt-tolerant Z. japonica from Texas A&M. Strong coastal LA pick.
Z. matrella x japonica hybrid. Premium fine blade with shade tolerance.
Classic 1955 USDA premium Z. matrella hybrid. Grown by Wilderness Turf in north LA.
Cold-tolerant Z. japonica for north LA. Grown by Spring Valley Sod in Ruston.
Texas A&M 2019 release. NTEP top performer 2017-2022.
Sod Solutions 2020. LS = Low Sun. Best shade tolerance in newer Zoysias.
Sod Solutions 2020 fine-blade Z. matrella. Premium upscale pick.
All 10 cultivars:
Empire · Palisades · Geo · Zeon · JaMur · Emerald · Meyer · Innovation · Trinity LS · Abaco
Zoysia is the premium upgrade. Here is how we match cultivar to situation.
Skip Zoysia if your yard sits under deep oak shade (St. Augustine Palmetto wins), you have chronic standing water (Carpetgrass), or you need the lawn rooted fast for an event (St. Augustine establishes in half the time).
Zoysia works in every Louisiana parish, but concentrates in regions where newer construction, higher household incomes, and traffic-heavy yards justify the premium price.
Weaker fit: Old Metairie / Garden District (mature oak shade favors St. Augustine Palmetto). Rural acreage (Centipede cheaper to maintain).
Call (985) 206-8585 or send your zip code, square footage, and which Zoysia cultivar you want (Empire, Zeon, or JaMur).
We confirm pricing and a delivery window inside an hour. We pull to the Louisiana sod farm closest to your address growing your cultivar. Most Zoysia comes from Florida Parish and Tangipahoa growers.
Fresh pallets arrive the morning you scheduled. Cut from the farm that day, never from storage.
Zoysia takes longer to establish than St. Augustine, so the first six weeks matter more.
| Trait | Zoysia | St. Augustine | Bermuda | Centipede |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shade tolerance | Medium | High to Medium | Very Low | Medium |
| Drought tolerance | High once rooted | Medium | Very High | Medium |
| Foot traffic | High | Low to medium | Very High | Low |
| Establishment | 4-6 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Cost tier | High | Middle | Middle | Low to middle |
| Watering demand | Lower than St. Aug | Higher | Lowest | Low |
Zoysia (Zoysia japonica and Zoysia matrella) is a warm-season grass native to East Asia. Grows well across all of Louisiana. Performs best in newer residential subdivisions across Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Lafayette, Greater Baton Rouge, and Jefferson Parish.
Four to six weeks with proper watering. Slower than St. Augustine and Bermuda. Spring and early summer installs root fastest.
Pricing depends on cultivar (Empire, Zeon, JaMur), volume, and delivery distance. Zoysia is the premium tier in our catalog. Call for an exact quote. Contractor pricing kicks in at five pallets.
Empire is the standard residential pick. Zeon is the premium pick for country club look. JaMur is the choice for builders and bigger jobs where fast establishment matters.
Zoysia is denser, finer-bladed, more drought tolerant once rooted, and holds up to foot traffic better. St. Augustine has wider softer blades, better shade tolerance, and roots in twice as fast.
Large patch (Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-2 LP) is the most common Zoysia disease in Louisiana. Circular tan or brown patches show up in fall and early spring. Prevention: reduce fall nitrogen, water in the morning only, improve drainage. Treat with fungicide if patches expand quickly.
Yes. Contractor and builder pricing on five or more pallets. NET 30 terms with approved credit. JaMur is a popular builder spec for faster establishment.
Empire, Zeon, or JaMur Zoysia cut fresh from a Louisiana sod farm and delivered to your address.
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7 AM to 6 PM · Statewide delivery · Contractor pricing on volume