Sun or partial shade, depending on variety. Zoysia is considered more drought- and shade-tolerant than other warm season grasses, and it makes a very dense, hardy turf that spreads by rhizomes and stolons. It grows and establishes slowly.
“El Toro,” “Jamur,” and “Palisades” are tough, with wide leaf blades resembling St. Augustine. Fine-textured zoysias like “Emerald” are plush underfoot, but shallow-rooted and more delicate.