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Free Metro Shipping, orders over $75

Generic filters
Search in title
Exact matches only
Filter by Key Features
Frost Tolerant
4 Seasons
Lawn alternative
Rapid Growing
Golf Greens
Drought Tolerant
Show Lawn
Hardy
Erosion control
Sports
Home Lawn
Soil improver
Pasture
Green Manure
Tropical
Soil Hydration
Low maintenance
Moisture Retention
Shade Tolerant
Water Penetration
Meadows
Fast Growing
Bee Attracting
Clover Lawn
Cool Climate
Soft
Versatile
Acreage
Salt Tolerant
Oversow
Filter by Varieties
Centipede Grass
Dichondra Repens
Bentgrass
Buffalo
Carpet Grass
Clover
Couch
Fescue
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kikuyu
McKays Elite Backyard
Parks Blend
Paspalum
Pasture
Poa Trivialis
Ryegrass
Zoysia
Filter by Location
Victoria
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  • Australian Owned
  • Fast dispatch
  • 30 Day Return Policy
  • Industry Leading Support 
  • Australian Owned
  • Fast dispatch
  • 30 Day Return Policy

Katambora Rhodes Grass

Katambora Rhodes, or Chloris Gayana, is a versatile diploid pasture grass ideal for a range of soil types. Suited for hay production and popular as horse feed, it offers high calcium and low oxalate levels for optimal nutrient absorption. Known for its superior frost, salt, and drought tolerance compared to Callide Rhodes, Katambora remains productive into Autumn and adapts to lower fertility soils. It thrives in cooler Australian areas that meet the temperature (20-37ºC) and rainfall guidelines, handling varied soil moisture and periodic waterlogging.

Sowing Rate

10 kg/ha

Please note: This product may be coated to support and enhance germination. Batches may vary.

For more information see below tabs ‘Description’ and ‘Features’ to see if this grass suits you!

Qty
Clear

Blade

Fine

Colour

Light Green

Growth

Spreading

Growth Rate

Fast

Detailed Description

Katambora Rhodes Grass, originally from Africa, was developed to thrive in parts of Australia where traditional Callide Rhodes grass struggled. With a remarkable hardiness, Katambora is resilient in a broad range of Australian climates, except for Tasmania and parts of Victoria. It thrives in optimal conditions with temperatures ranging from 20-37°C and annual rainfall between 600-1200mm, but its true strength lies in its adaptability to unfamiliar conditions. Capable of enduring temperatures from 5° to 50°C, it holds up well against drought, salt, and even fleeting frosts.

Unlike Callide Rhodes, Katambora demonstrates exceptional resilience when planted in more temperate areas, making it suitable for nearly the entire continent. Its deep root system, capable of reaching depths of up to 4.5 meters, allows it to access lower water tables, enhancing its drought resistance. This robust root structure, along with tall blades reaching 1-2 meters, enables the grass to withstand flooding for up to 15 days, though it is vulnerable to prolonged waterlogging.

Katambora Rhodes is particularly popular as horse feed due to its high calcium and low oxalate levels, which facilitate optimal nutrient absorption. This makes it an excellent choice for maintaining healthy livestock, especially horses.

The grass is adaptable to cooler areas of Australia, provided the temperature and rainfall recommendations are met. It can continue to grow in climates with temperature variations from 5° to 50°C.

Climate

The optimum growing temperature for Rhodes Grasses is in the range of 20°-37ºC.

Sowing Tips

Sow at a rate of 10kg/ha. Ensure the soil is well-prepared and choose a time between September and March when there is a higher probability of consecutive rain days. This product may be coated to support and enhance germination; batches may vary.

Optimal Sowing Time

We recommend sowing Katambora Rhodes Grass between September and March, depending on the climate and rainfall forecasts.

Germination

Germination occurs approximately 7 days after sowing, influenced by climate, soil preparation, and conditions. Expect full coverage by three months, with the root system maturing in about 12 months.

Water

Katambora Rhodes can manage a wider range of soil moisture conditions than other varieties, tolerating periodic waterlogging due to its vigorous root system. It requires 600mm – 1200mm of rainfall annually unless irrigated.

Fertilising

Production levels decline without a vigorous legume or the application of nitrogen fertilisers.

Mowing

Katambora Rhodes grass is very tolerant to cutting or grazing. Maintain the stand in a leafy condition by regular cutting/slashing or grazing. However, avoid overly frequent cutting or intensive grazing (approximately every 14 days) to prevent production losses and stand decline.

Grazing

Avoid grazing Rhodes grass in the first year until plants and runners are well anchored, usually after autumn rains. Ensure the plants are well established before allowing grazing.

Seed and Package Details

100% Katambora Rhodes Grass Seeds. Independently tested with a seed certificate available upon request.

Ideal Usage

Primarily used for pastures.

NOTE: Pasture Seed and Animal Health

When purchasing seeds through McKays Grass Seeds, the buyer acknowledges that McKays Grass Seeds is not liable for any animal health issues that may arise from our pasture seeds.

It is the buyer’s responsibility to contact a certified agronomist to ensure they are purchasing the correct seeds, in the correct quantities for their property, location, and animals.

View Key Features

Have any questions? Feel free to contact us and we’ll help you out.

 

Locations

Map Grass Image

Season

  • Warm
  • Cool

Warm season grasses thrive during the warmer months in Spring and Summer and may go dormant in cooler climates through winter.

Cool season grasses thrive during the cooler months in Winter

Seed information

Shade tolerance (Weather)

  • Full Sun
  • Part Shade
  • Heavy Shade
  • Full Shade

Drought tolerance (Weather)

  • Moderate
  • Good
  • Excellent

Traffic tolerance (Weather)

  • Moderate
  • Good
  • Excellent

Frost tolerance

  • Poor
  • Moderate
  • Good
  • Excellent

Average days to germination

  • 2-3 Weeks
  • 2-4 Weeks
  • 3-4 Weeks

Free Metro Shipping On All Orders Over $75

We provide free standard delivery shipping for all orders to "metro" zones, where the total cart value exceeds $75.00.
Otherwise, to metro zones it's a flat rate of $9 (for orders under $75).

Non-Metro Zones

Standard Delivery

Australia Wide (except Western Australia), at cost from Australia Post. 
Orders are dispatched within 24 hours via regular Australia Post (3-5 business days).

Express Post

In a hurry? Express shipping is available at checkout for both Metro and Non-Metro Zones. Priced according to shipment weight.

WA Customers

Due to quarantine restrictions, we have a different product range available for Western Australia.
If you are shopping for delivery to WA, please view our WA site here

Pick-up Not Available

Sorry, we are not able to offer local pick-up.

International

Unfortunately we are not able to ship internationally.

Customer Reviews

Based on 38 reviews
89%
(34)
8%
(3)
3%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
C
Christine
Katambora Rhodes grass

Communication could be better with the delay in delivery.
The seeds are great already starting to germinate in a week with the rain and warm days.

M
Mark N.
excellent service

fast postage very good packaging excellent seller

M
Maria
Grass see

Awesome product quick delivery

A
Allen S.
katambora rhodes grass

i have not planted it yet just getting ready for spring..... but iam wondering what else i could plant with it i have premier diget aswell ...i live on the grante belt if know of some thing

A
Angela N.
Fast delivery

Upon ordering the seeds were delivered quickly.

R
Rob W.
Rye, Rhodes and Red Clover

Well done to McKays Grass Seeds. Such great products and fast delivery. Pleasure to deal with. Definitely will purchase from McKays in the near future.

D
Damian
Delivery Issues

The grass is probably great but my instructions for delivery werent followed and I had to go to the post office to collect. That was frustrating

Katambora Rhodes Grass
$156.40$418.90 incl. GST
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