University of Georgia releases new paspalum cultivar

The University of Georgia announced the release of a new vegetative seashore paspalum turfgrass called SeaBreeze.

Developed at the university's campus at Griffin, Georgia, after 16 years of research, SeaBreeze is the fifth paspalum released by the University of Georgia and the third cultivar released under the leadership of Dr. Paul Raymer. SeaBreeze is suitable for tee-to-green golf course use and offers multiple benefits, including superior drought tolerance.

Two sod producers in Florida currently grow SeaBreeze: Creekside Growers in Arcadia and Sun Turf in Fort Pierce. Limited licensing opportunities are available in other regions. Acres of SeaBreeze are being rapidly expanded, with sod and sprigs available in early summer 2024 for projects worldwide.

“SeaBreeze is by far the best paspalum we’ve developed. It combines vigor and performance with beauty and toughness,” said Raymer, a professor of crop and soil science at the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics at the University of Georgia, Griffin Campus. “This grass establishes readily and grows in rapidly. I think sod producers are going to love it because it cycles quickly and it’s fun to grow.”

Samples of SeaBreeze will be on display at the University of Georgia’s Team UGA (Georgia's Integrated Cultivar Release System/ITGAP) at booth #5544 during the GCSAA Conference and Trade show.

SeaBreeze is a vigorous vegetative seashore paspalum cultivar that produces excellent quality turf under a range of mowing heights, and is suitable for use on golf courses, athletic fields, home lawns and other recreational venues as fine turf. SeaBreeze was tested under the experimental name of ‘UGP 73.’ It was evaluated extensively in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program at eight southern locations from 2016 to 2020.