Compare Grass Types Perth — All 7 Varieties, Side by Side
Every variety we supply, lined up on price, sun tolerance, water use and maintenance so you can see the trade-offs at a glance. If you’d rather not compare manually, tell the Turf Finder about your yard and get a straight recommendation instead.
Choosing the right turf for your Perth lawn comes down to sunlight, budget, foot traffic and how much maintenance you want to do. Use the table below to compare all seven varieties we supply, then jump to the quick picks to find the best match for your yard.
| Variety | Price /m² | Sun | Water needs | Maintenance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Zoysia | $20.00 | Part shade suitable | high | very-low | Low-maintenance premium lawn |
| Palmetto Buffalo | $20.00 | Part shade suitable | medium | low | Soft, shade-tolerant family lawn |
| Premium Kikuyu | $13.00 | Full sun | high | medium | Fast coverage and big lawns |
| Santa Ana Couch | $15.00 | Full sun | high | medium | Wear resistance and sports-style lawns |
| Sir Walter Buffalo | $18.00 | Part shade suitable | high | low | Popular Perth family lawns |
| Village Green Kikuyu | $15.00 | Full sun | medium | medium | Domestic lawns and quick establishment |
| Wintergreen Couch | $12.00 | Full sun | high | low | Budget lawn and high traffic |
Quick picks
Best budget option
Wintergreen Couch
$12.00/m²
Lowest price per square metre with strong wear tolerance for busy Perth backyards.
Best for shade
Sir Walter Buffalo
$18.00/m²
A soft-leaf buffalo that handles part shade better than couch or kikuyu.
Best for kids and pets
Sir Walter Buffalo
$18.00/m²
Soft underfoot, hard-wearing and a popular choice for family lawns.
Best low-maintenance option
Empire Zoysia
$20.00/m²
Very low maintenance and low water needs once established.
Best premium soft lawn
Palmetto Buffalo
$20.00/m²
A soft, premium buffalo with a comfortable feel for family spaces.
Best for fast coverage
Premium Kikuyu
$13.00/m²
Vigorous grower that knits together and covers quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Which turf is best for a Perth backyard?
It depends on sunlight, budget and how the lawn is used. Sir Walter Buffalo is a popular all-round family choice, couch varieties suit full-sun budgets, and Empire Zoysia suits low-maintenance premium lawns.
What is the cheapest turf option?
Wintergreen Couch is our most budget-friendly variety per square metre while still being hard-wearing.
Which turf handles shade?
Buffalo varieties such as Sir Walter and Palmetto tolerate part shade better than couch or kikuyu.
Do you deliver and install across Perth?
Yes. We supply across the Perth metro area and offer professional installation. Use the delivery estimator for an indicative delivery cost to your suburb.
Buffalo vs Kikuyu
More Perth homeowners compare these two than any other pair, and the answer depends on what your yard actually looks like, not which one is “better” in general.
Buffalo (Genuine Sir Walter or Palmetto) copes with shade — Sir Walter handles part-shade positions that would thin out under Kikuyu, and both feel noticeably softer underfoot, which matters if bare feet and backyard cricket are part of the deal. The trade-off is price: expect to pay $18–$20/m², against $13–$15/m² for Kikuyu.
Kikuyu (Premium or Village Green) wants full sun and rewards it — it establishes fast, spreads to self-repair worn patches, and costs less per square metre, which adds up on a big block. It’s a stronger pick for large, open, sun-drenched lawns where speed and price matter more than shade tolerance or underfoot softness.
The short version: shaded yard, kids who’ll be lying on the grass, or budget isn’t the deciding factor — go Buffalo. Wide open sun, a big area to cover, or price is the main constraint — go Kikuyu. Yards with a mix of both are the one case worth a proper look with the Turf Finder rather than guessing.
Drought-Resistant Turf Perth
Every variety on this page is a reasonable choice for Perth’s dry summers once it’s established, but they’re not equal on ongoing water use. If keeping the reticulation bill down is the priority, this is the order that matters:
- Empire Zoysia — the lowest water use of anything we stock, holding its colour and density on the least watering of the seven.
- Genuine Sir Walter Buffalo — low water once established, and one of the more forgiving varieties if you occasionally miss a watering cycle.
- Santa Ana Couch and Wintergreen Couch — both low water once established, with couch’s natural drought tolerance doing most of the work.
- Premium Kikuyu — low water once established, though it establishes and spreads fastest with reliable early watering.
- Palmetto Buffalo and Village Green Kikuyu — low–medium water use, still efficient but the two to budget slightly more reticulation time for.
“Established” is doing some work in every one of those — a newly laid lawn needs consistent watering for the first few weeks regardless of variety. If reticulation is part of the plan, our $99 water & reticulation audit checks your system is actually delivering water where the turf needs it, rather than guessing at run times.
Know your pick? Next steps
Price it up
Calculate cost & delivery
Enter your lawn size for an instant price and delivery cost to your suburb.
Done for you
Get an install quote
Want it laid for you? Get a fast turf installation quote across Perth.
Still unsure?
Book a Lawn Clinic
Trying to save an existing lawn? Book a Lawn Clinic and we’ll tell you exactly what to do.