Which Zoysia Lawn is Right For Your Home?

When choosing a zoysia lawn, many Australian homeowners find themselves comparing Zoysia Australis vs Empire Zoysia. Both are popular zoysia turf varieties known for durability, drought tolerance and a low maintenance approach compared to other grasses like couch grass.

However, while they share common traits, they have distinct characteristics that make each better suited to different lawn needs.

In this guide, we compare Zoysia Australis and Empire Zoysia across appearance, shade tolerance, wear tolerance, maintenance and climate suitability to help you choose the right grass type for your garden, whether you’re laying a new lawn or upgrading an existing space.

Zoysia Australis

Zoysia Australis is a medium-textured zoysia grass selected for its robust nature and ability to perform in challenging conditions. It is a practical and resilient lawn option for home lawns that have high-traffic areas, shaded areas or varying soil types.

Known for its high shade tolerance, strong wear tolerance and excellent drought tolerance, Zoysia Australis has become a popular choice for Aussie families wanting a low-maintenance lawn that performs reliably across the east coast, including cooler and warmer climates.

Empire Zoysia

Empire Zoysia is a fine-textured zoysia variety (Zoysia japonica) often chosen for its dense growth and refined aesthetic appeal. It is commonly used on feature lawns, golf courses and landscapes where visual presentation is prioritised over heavy wear.

Empire Zoysia is a slow-growing grass with good drought tolerance and a soft underfoot feel, but it generally performs best in full sun and warmer climates, with more limited tolerance in shaded areas.

Appearance & Leaf Texture

Zoysia Australis

Zoysia Australis has a medium leaf blade and a deep, dark green colour that creates a natural, robust lawn finish. Its appearance suits everyday gardens where durability and coverage matter more than ultra-fine texture.

It also maintains a consistent look even when mowing is less frequent, producing minimal grass clippings.

Empire Australis

Empire Zoysia features a finer texture and dense growth habit that creates a manicured, carpet-like lawn. Its leaf colour is typically dark green, with strong aesthetic appeal in well-maintained spaces. However, achieving this appearance often requires more careful mowing and maintenance.

Takeaway: Empire Zoysia prioritises fine texture and appearance, while Zoysia Australis balances looks with durability and practicality.

Sun & Shade Tolerance

Zoysia Australis

Zoysia Australis performs well from full sun through to shaded areas, making it highly adaptable for gardens with trees, buildings or fencing.

Its ability to tolerate reduced direct light makes it well-suited to home lawns where light levels change throughout the day.

Empire Australis

Empire Zoysia prefers full sun and requires more direct light to maintain density and colour. In lower light conditions, it may thin out, particularly in cooler or shaded environments.

Takeaway: If your lawn has mixed light or shaded areas, Zoysia Australis offers greater flexibility and reliability.

Wear Tolerance & Recovery

Zoysia Australis

Designed for real-world use, Zoysia Australis is highly wear-tolerant and recovers well from foot traffic. This makes it ideal for Aussie families, pets and gardens used daily for play or entertaining.

Empire Australis

Empire Zoysia has moderate wear tolerance but recovers more slowly under sustained use. It is better suited to lower-traffic spaces or ornamental lawns rather than busy family gardens.

Takeaway: Zoysia Australis is the more resilient lawn for high-traffic areas.

Water Use & Drought Tolerance

Zoysia Australis

Zoysia Australis is exceptionally drought-tolerant once established. It requires less frequent watering, particularly when water is applied deeply rather than often. This makes it suitable for Australian conditions where water efficiency matters.

Empire Australis

Empire Zoysia is also drought-tolerant but typically requires more consistent irrigation to maintain its fine texture and colour, especially during late summer and warmer periods.

Takeaway: Both grasses are drought-tolerant, but Zoysia Australis requires less ongoing water input.

Maintenance Requirements

Zoysia Australis

As a slow-growing grass, Zoysia Australis requires less mowing, lower fertiliser inputs and minimal pest control compared to many turf types.

A slow-release fertiliser applied seasonally is usually sufficient, contributing to a genuinely low-maintenance lawn.

Empire Australis

Empire Zoysia is also slow-growing but is more maintenance-sensitive. To retain its fine texture and dense appearance, careful mowing, fertilising, and monitoring for fungal diseases such as brown patch or root rot may be required in certain conditions.

Takeaway: Zoysia Australis is more forgiving if maintenance routines are inconsistent.

Establishment & Seasonal Performance

Zoysia Australis

Zoysia Australis establishes relatively quickly for a zoysia variety and performs consistently across seasons. It may enter light winter dormancy in colder climates, but recovers well in early spring.

Empire Australis

Empire Zoysia can be slower to establish and may show more visible winter dormancy, particularly in colder climates or shaded environments.

Zoysia Australis vs Other Zoysia Turf Varieties

Across the zoysia family (including Zoysia macrantha, Zoysia matrella, Nara Native Zoysia, Augusta Zoysia and Platinum Zoysia) Zoysia Australis stands out for its balance of wear tolerance, shade tolerance and low-maintenance performance.

Empire Zoysia, while popular, suits a narrower range of conditions compared to more versatile zoysia turf options designed for Australian homeowners.

Which Lawn Is Right for You?

Choose Zoysia Australis if you want:

• A resilient lawn that handles high traffic areas

• Strong performance in shaded areas and mixed light

• Less mowing and lower maintenance overall

• A turf suited to Aussie families and everyday use

Choose Empire Zoysia if you want:

• A fine texture lawn with strong visual appeal

• A feature or low-traffic lawn

• A turf best suited to full sun and warmer climates

Considering a premium fine-leaf Zoysia?

If you’re drawn to the fine texture and soft underfoot feel of Empire Zoysia but want a premium option proven for Australian conditions, Sir Grange Zoysia is worth considering.

Sir Grange offers a refined appearance with better adaptability and performance for Australian gardens.

Final Verdict

Both Zoysia Australis and Empire Zoysia are quality turf varieties, but they serve different purposes. For most Australian homeowners seeking a low-maintenance, wear-tolerant and adaptable lawn, Zoysia Australis is the more practical choice.

Empire Zoysia remains a visually appealing option for specific applications, but its narrower performance range makes it less suitable for busy family gardens.

If you’re unsure which turf type best suits your soil, light conditions or garden layout, feel free to get in touch with our team. We’re always happy to help you choose the right lawn for your space.