Kurapia Ground Cover: What Is It And Does It Work?

Kurapia floor cowl is an attention-grabbing plant. Referred to as both Lippia nodiflora L. ‘Kurapia’ or Phyla nodiflora, its origins are in Japan the place it’s a typical evergreen floor cowl. Nevertheless, kurapia floor cowl performs extraordinarily nicely in drought-stricken areas of america in addition to in areas the place it will get ample quantities of water and doesn’t endure from over-irrigation, making it a surprisingly good selection for a garden different. The most important disadvantage of kurapia is that it’s not frost-hardy and can die again throughout frosts and freezes, nevertheless it’ll come again within the spring if it was nicely established.

The primary number of Kurapia getting used for floor covers is patented, so its availability is at the moment considerably restricted. Nevertheless, it’s rapidly gaining recognition as it’s fairly low upkeep and wishes much less water than cool and warm-season turfgrasses. Kurapia is frequent in California and is beginning to make inroads into Arizona and Texas as a drought-tolerant floor cowl that may tolerate mild foot visitors, too. Kurapia is mostly offered as both an entire plug that might be planted each 18 inches or as Kurapia sod. 

Kurapia sod or Kurapia plugs will develop rapidly and make quick work of filling in any gaps inside a number of months. Preserve the newly planted plug nicely watered with sufficient aeration till it’s established and lively shoot development is current. It’s going to reward you with the advantages of abrasion management, water conservation, and weed suppression. Kurapia floor cowl makes a wonderful garden substitute that has a excessive stage of illness resistance and tolerates many soil sorts and rising situations. 

Fast Care Information

All About Kurapia

Kurapia, Phyla nodiflora or Lippia nodiflora L. “Kurapia” is also referred to as frog fruit, noticed tooth fog fruit, or turkey tangle. This floor cowl plant is a perennial in most locations, though it’s not frost-hardy and can die again in zones the place the temperatures drop under 38 levels within the winter. If Kurapia is nicely established then it may get well within the spring after dying again within the winter. It’s an evergreen in zones and not using a exhausting frost. It resembles clover and has an analogous development behavior together with small white flowers. Kurapia was developed in Japan and has since gained traction in america as a horny choice for garden substitute that may additionally help in weed management. Not too long ago it was endorsed by New Leaf Panorama in California. 

Kurapia has a really deep root system that may attain down 5-10 toes under the soil floor. The sturdy construction of the foundation system is what makes Kurapia significantly adept at offering soil erosion management. It may additionally simply be grown on slopes and tolerate windy situations. Since this selection is sterile which means it doesn’t produce seed and due to this fact these vegetation are generally bought at nurseries – like Kurapia Inc – which offer kurapia plugs. In depth analysis is being performed at UC Davis through irrigation trials relating to its drought tolerance. 

Care

Kurapia is rapidly changing into the main turf and groundcover different with minimal upkeep required. Learn on to find out about its wants to incorporate it in future initiatives for floor cowl and weed management.

Solar and Temperature

Kurapia sod prefers full solar though it may tolerate half shade. Partly shade, it might not develop as densely and should not produce flowers. 6-8 hours of direct daylight per day is required for optimum development. Kurapia is taken into account one of many cool-season turfgrasses that’s cold-hardy as a result of it may tolerate temperatures right down to 45 levels. It’s going to keep evergreen in areas the place temperatures keep above 38 levels like in zones 7b and better. As with most evergreens, it’s going to stay inexperienced at 45 levels however will enter dormancy. It isn’t frost-hardy and can die again as soon as temperatures attain under 38 levels, however whether it is nicely established it’s going to return within the spring. 

Water and Humidity

Kurapia sod is gaining recognition in dry areas like California, Arizona, and Texas due to its skill to make use of much less water than comparable floor covers. Irrigation system trials have been performed to check the drought tolerance of kurapia sod. In these trials, throughout dry durations, the examiner will withhold water for weeks at a time with a view to take a look at how lengthy this plant can go with out water and nonetheless get well to its full well being. In these checks, it’s going to die again and switch brown, showing virtually utterly dried out and useless. As soon as irrigation is reintroduced on a daily schedule, then it’s going to spring again to life! Kurapia leaves retailer water of their vascular tissue which permits them to carry onto water reserves longer than grass. Due to this, additionally it is a good selection for areas the place water conservation efforts place limits on day by day water. 

You might not wish to purposely stress your vegetation on this method, nevertheless it’s good to know that if you happen to overlook to water them each from time to time that they received’t die on you. It’s finest to distribute water evenly over your Kurapia through a sprinkler system. Poor sprinkler distribution may end up in uneven development so ensure that your sprinklers are reaching the entire kurapia sod space evenly or use hand watering to sooner fill in gaps between plugs. Kurapia does finest when watered within the morning and though it may survive an prolonged drought, it’s going to seem the lushest and greenest when it’s watered on a bi-weekly irrigation schedule in the course of the rising season. Through the institution interval, make sure you water your Kurapia sod plugs as soon as every week to encourage speedy new development. Through the winter, as soon as temperatures are constantly under 45 levels your kurapia sod will enter a interval of dormancy and extra irrigation is not obligatory. 

Soil

Kurapia sod thrives in sandy loam soils wealthy with natural matter that are additionally typically current in dry spots. It has been proven to outlive a wide range of situations together with high and low pH soils and even soils containing excessive salt concentrations. The basis system has been proven to supply erosion management which makes it a terrific choice for planting on slopes and different uneven planting surfaces. Along with the soil erosion properties, its thick, dense development aids in weed suppression and as soon as established prevents weed seeds from germinating by limiting their entry to the soil floor. Since it may tolerate a wide range of soil situations this makes it a terrific alternative for planting in public utility areas. 

Fertilizing

Whereas it’s not solely essential to fertilize your Kurapia sod it’s going to carry out even higher and retain its vibrant inexperienced colour nicely into winter with a light-weight fertilizer utilized twice a yr, as soon as in spring and once more within the fall. A slow-release balanced natural fertilizer will work finest. Fertilizing within the spring will encourage flowers if offering meals for pollinators is part of your aim with this groundcover. 

Mowing and Upkeep

Similar to with a garden, Kurapia does require mowing. Normal steerage is to mow Kurapia sod a minimum of as soon as a month to maintain it at a manageable lawn-like top. You may let your Kurapia plugs develop to be a number of inches taller if you happen to’d like them to flower and produce forage for pollinators. Through the winter months, the expansion will decelerate significantly as will your have to mow it. 

Propagation

The commercially-available kurapia is sterile and due to this fact doesn’t produce viable seed, nevertheless it does unfold progressively over time with out seed viability. There’s little data accessible as as to if or not kurapia sod will be propagated through cuttings, nevertheless, it may be dug up and divided as soon as established and replanted elsewhere. Bear in mind to clear the realm of weeds both with a tarp or non-selective herbicide earlier than planting kurapia sod.  

Troubleshooting

Kurapia sod is a low upkeep floor cowl which makes it excellent for an space that you simply want to cowl rapidly and completely – particularly on the subject of weed suppression. This floor cowl sod has minimal rising issues, pests, and illnesses. 

Rising Issues

Most frequently rising issues with Kurapia sod come up from dry areas brought on by poor sprinkler distribution, clogged nozzles, or leaks within the irrigation programs. Verify your sprinkler distribution to ensure your Kurapia is being watered evenly. If sure areas are rising sooner, thicker, or seem lusher than others with extra runners, then this can be an indicator of irrigation points.

Pests

In southern California, kurapia has no recognized pests! In different areas, there have been reviews of injury brought on by leaf chewing bugs, however this injury has been minor and doesn’t trigger any long-term points for Kurapia floor cowl. For that reason, there aren’t any pest management strategies that should be carried out or pest prevention strategies to contemplate when buying plugs of Kurapia. 

Illnesses

Similar to an absence of pests, in southern California, kurapia additionally has no recognized illnesses! It could be prone to illness in additional humid environments. Keep away from over-irrigation in humid climates as this will likely result in fungal illnesses. Since Kurapia is low-growing, densely packed, and has little airflow between runners, it makes the right setting for fungal points when excessive humidity situations are current. Kurapia can have a tough time recovering from fungal infections, so preventative measures are finest. Be sure you water within the morning to keep away from moist foliage when humidity tends to be at its highest. If a fungal an infection is already current, then apply an natural fungicide per the directions on the bottle. 

Regularly Requested Questions

Q: Is kurapia an excellent floor cowl?

A: Kurapia makes a wonderful floor cowl! It grows horizontally by rooting alongside the stem, Protecting the stems low to the bottom through mowing will encourage this horizontal development. 

Q: Is kurapia invasive?

A: No, it’s a sterile/non-invasive and cold-hardy cultivar. There are, nevertheless, Phyla nodiflora varieties which have been naturalized and develop like weeds in California and are thought of invasive. 

Q: Will kurapia choke out grass?

A: Kurapia can and can choke out weeds and grass as soon as it’s totally established. 

Q: Can children play on kurapia?

A: Kurapia can maintain mild foot visitors, nevertheless it needs to be totally established first. 

Q: Is kurapia deer-resistant?

A: Sure, it’s deer resistant.