How Many Types of Buffalo Grass Are There in Australia? A Quick Guide Before You Choose

Australia has six main buffalo grass varieties: Sir Walter, Sapphire, Palmetto, Prestige, Matilda, and Shademaster. Each is bred for a different job, whether that's shade, drought, wear, or looks. The right one depends on your yard, not on which name you've heard most.

Buffalo Grass Varieties at a Glance

Variety	Best For	Feel	Shade Tolerance	Water Needs
Sir Walter	All-round use, foot traffic	Soft, broad	Good	Moderate
Sapphire	Shady yards	Fine, soft	Excellent (up to 70%)	Moderate
Palmetto	Drought, coastal, heavy wear	Coarser	Moderate–good	Low
Prestige	A neat, formal front lawn	Fine, narrow	Good	Moderate–high
Matilda	Budget, low water	Soft	Moderate	Low
Shademaster	Fast cover, weed control	Coarse	Moderate	Moderate

Some growers stock other cultivars too, so the exact list can vary by state and supplier. But these six cover almost every mainstream option sold across Australia.

What Is Buffalo Grass?

Buffalo grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a warm-season turf that handles Australian heat and humidity well. It forms a thick, broad-leafed lawn and copes with shade far better than couch or kikuyu. Sir Walter, Sapphire, and every other named variety are the same species, bred to improve one trait: softness, drought recovery, or shade tolerance.

This is why two buffalo lawns can look and behave so differently, even though they're technically the same type of grass. The breeding work behind each variety changes how it copes with your specific conditions.

The Six Varieties, Explained Simply

1. Sir Walter: The Reliable All-Rounder

Best for: Family backyards, general use
Strength: Handles full sun and moderate shade, bounces back fast from kids and pets
Upkeep: Low

The most popular buffalo grass in Australia. It rarely has a clear weakness and performs steadily across most conditions, which is why it's the default pick for most home lawns.

2. Sapphire — Best for Shade

Best for: Yards with trees, awnings, or fences blocking the sun
Strength: Excellent shade tolerance (up to 70%), fine, soft leaf
Upkeep: Moderate

Stays green where other varieties thin out. It also drops fewer seed heads than older varieties, which is handy for kids who go barefoot, and its deep root system helps it recover after dry spells.

3. Palmetto — Built Tough

Best for: Coastal blocks, pool surrounds, rural properties
Strength: Drought and salt tolerance, handles heavy foot traffic
Upkeep: Low

The leaf is coarser than Sir Walter or Sapphire, but that trade-off buys serious durability. A solid pick where resilience matters more than a plush, soft feel.

4. Prestige — The Neat, Formal Finish

Best for: Front lawns, appearance-focused yards
Strength: Dense, tidy, can be mowed lower for a manicured look
Upkeep: High

The narrowest leaf of the main varieties. It costs more than Sir Walter or Matilda and needs consistent mowing, so skipping a few weeks can make it look untidy fast.

5. Matilda — The Budget Option

Best for: Cost-conscious homeowners, low-water lawns
Strength: Drought tolerant, slower growth means less mowing
Upkeep: Low

Won't match Sapphire for shade or Prestige for polish, but it's genuinely low-maintenance, holds up under normal family use, and is easier on the wallet.

6. Shademaster — Fast Cover, Weed Control

Best for: New lawns with weed problems
Strength: Establishes and spreads quickly, crowds out weeds
Upkeep: Moderate

Coarser than the newer soft-leaf varieties, so it's less common in home backyards today, but still useful where fast coverage matters more than fine texture.

Basic Care: What Changes Between Varieties

All buffalo grass shares the same rough care routine, but the details shift slightly depending on the variety:

Care Task	What to Know
Mowing height	Most varieties: 30–50mm. Prestige can go as low as 20mm for a tighter finish.
Mowing frequency	Every 7–14 days during the growing season, less often over winter.
Watering	Matilda and Palmetto need the least. Prestige and Sir Walter need slightly more to stay lush.
Fertilising	Most varieties: 2–4 feeds a year. Premium varieties like Prestige need more.
Thatch build-up	Palmetto and Sir Walter produce the least. Shademaster and older varieties need more dethatching over time.

Getting these basics right matters more than which variety you pick. A well-cared-for Matilda lawn will usually beat a neglected Prestige one.

How to Choose the Right Variety

Answer these questions before you decide:

How much shade does the yard get? Heavy shade → Sapphire. Full sun → most varieties will work fine.
How much foot traffic will it take? Kids, dogs, and regular backyard use → Sir Walter or Palmetto.
What's your water budget? Want to keep watering low → Matilda or Palmetto.
Is it a front lawn or backyard? Front lawn (looks matter most) → Prestige. Backyard (use matters most) → Sir Walter.
What's your budget? Matilda is usually the cheapest. Prestige and Sapphire sit at the higher end.

Comparing two specific options side by side is often more useful than reading through every variety at once. This guide on Matilda vs Sir Walter Buffalo turf breaks down both for everyday family lawns, including cost, upkeep, and how each copes under regular use.

Does the Supplier Matter?

Yes, more than most people expect. The same variety can perform very differently depending on how it's grown, harvested, and delivered. Turf that's freshly cut and laid soon after harvest establishes faster and more evenly than turf that's sat around for a few days. Buying direct from a grower, rather than through several middlemen, usually means fresher turf and fewer surprises once it's down. A View Turf grows and sells directly, which is worth checking for when comparing quotes from different suppliers.

Buffalo Grass FAQs

Is Sir Walter still the best all-round choice?

Yes, for most backyards with a mix of sun and light shade. It remains the easiest variety to source and the most forgiving to maintain.

Which variety needs the least water?

Matilda and Palmetto are the most drought-tolerant of the six main varieties.

Can buffalo grass grow in full shade?

No. Even Sapphire, the most shade-tolerant option, needs some daily light. No buffalo variety survives long-term past around 70% shade.

Is Prestige worth the extra cost over Sir Walter?

Only if a neat, low-cut front lawn is the priority. For general backyard use, Sir Walter offers similar durability for a lower price and less mowing effort.

How often does buffalo grass need mowing?

Every 7–14 days during the growing season, cut to 30–50mm. Prestige can be mowed slightly lower for a tighter finish.

Do all varieties suit every part of Australia equally?

Mostly, yes, since they're all bred for Australian conditions. But local shade levels, rainfall, and soil type still affect which one performs best on your block.

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