Kenda® Kikuyu vs Sapphire® Soft Leaf Buffalo: Which Turf Is Right for Your Yard?

Choosing turf is one of those decisions that feels bigger than it should. You’re staring at a backyard that’s half dirt and half hope, trying to figure out whether Kikuyu or Buffalo is going to give you the lawn you’re after — and you don’t want to get it wrong.

The good news? Both varieties we grow here at True Blue Turf Farm are genuinely excellent. Kenda® Kikuyu and Sapphire® Soft Leaf Buffalo are both premium, purpose-bred grasses that perform well in WA conditions. They’re just built for different things, and knowing which one suits your yard — and your lifestyle — makes all the difference.

Here’s how they stack up.

Meet Kenda® Kikuyu: The Hard-Working Family Lawn

If your yard is going to be used, really used — dogs tearing around, kids kicking goals, a few too many summer get-togethers — Kenda Kikuyu was made for that life.

Kenda is a purpose-bred improvement on common Kikuyu, developed specifically to address the traits that traditional Kikuyu left a lot to be desired on. The result is a grass that’s denser, tougher, and better-behaved than anything that came before it.

What makes Kenda stand out

• It wears like iron. Kenda has four times as many rhizomes as common Kikuyu, which means its root system is far more robust and able to handle the kind of traffic that would leave a lesser lawn looking threadbare. When it does take a knock, it bounces back fast.
• It stays green through winter. One of the most common complaints about warm-season grasses is that they go brown and dormant when the weather cools. Kenda keeps its bright green colour through the cooler months — handy for those mild but cool Southwest winters when you still want a presentable yard.
• It’s soft underfoot. Don’t let the word “tough” fool you. Kenda has a dense, fine leaf that’s genuinely soft — great for bare feet on a summer afternoon.
• It’s low-allergen. Kenda is bred to be predominantly male sterile, which means it produces very little seed head. This is a real bonus for households where grass pollen is an issue.
• It’s a drought tough performer. WA summers are no joke, and water restrictions are a fact of life. Kenda is drought tolerant and fast-establishing, with large prostrate runners that help it get its roots down quickly after laying.
• It grows low and dense. Unlike common Kikuyu which can get quite vertical and unkempt between mows, Kenda grows more horizontally, giving it a tidy, uniform appearance even when it hasn’t been mowed recently.

Kenda Kikuyu is the right call if:

• Your lawn gets heavy foot traffic (kids, pets, sport)
• Your yard is in full sun
• You want a grass that keeps its colour in winter
• Fast establishment is important to you
• Allergies or pollen sensitivity are a factor in your household

Meet Sapphire® Soft Leaf Buffalo: The Lush, Low-Fuss Performer

If Kenda is the workhorse, Sapphire is the thoroughbred. Sapphire Soft Leaf Buffalo is an Australian-bred variety known for its incredible softness, its fine leaf texture, and its remarkable ability to thrive in situations where other grasses struggle — particularly in shade.

What makes Sapphire stand out

• It’s Australia’s number one Buffalo for shade tolerance. If you’ve got established trees, a pergola, or sections of the yard that don’t get full sun all day, Sapphire handles partial shade better than almost any other variety on the market.
• It looks finer than other Buffalos. Sapphire’s narrow-folded blade gives it a finer, more refined appearance compared to other Buffalo varieties. It’s a genuinely beautiful lawn to look at — and to walk on.
• It recovers quickly. Despite its premium look, Sapphire’s fast stolon growth means that when it does get worn in a high-traffic area, it fills back in quickly. New roots can establish within two weeks of planting when it’s well cared for.
• It has a distinctive, lush colour. Sapphire has a slight blue-green tinge that gives it a rich, deep lawn colour. Its runners are a dark green rather than the purple runners you see in many popular Buffalo varieties.
• It has excellent drought tolerance. Sapphire’s dense root system gives it strong drought resilience — a must-have trait for any lawn in the Southwest.
• It’s low maintenance. Sapphire is slower growing than Kikuyu, which means it doesn’t need mowing as frequently and is easier to keep looking tidy with less effort.
• It’s also low-allergen. Like Kenda, Sapphire produces very little seed head, making it a good choice for allergy-prone households.

Sapphire Buffalo is the right call if:

• Parts of your yard are shaded for significant portions of the day
• You want a lush, fine-leafed lawn with a premium appearance
• You prefer a grass that needs fewer mows
• You have pets and kids but want a softer, more comfortable surface
• Drought tolerance with a dense root system is a priority

Side by Side: Quick Comparison

Attribute	Kenda® Kikuyu	Sapphire® Soft Leaf Buffalo
Sun requirement	Full sun	Full sun to moderate shade
Shade tolerance	Low	Excellent
Wear tolerance	Very high	High
Softness	Soft	Very soft
Winter colour	Green	Excellent winter green
Maintenance	Moderate	Low
Drought tolerance	High	High
Allergy friendly	Yes (low seed head)	Yes (low seed head)
Establishment speed	Fast	Fast (roots in ~14 days)
Best for	Active families, full-sun yards	Shaded areas, premium look, low-fuss

So, Which One Is For You?

Honestly? The clearest deciding factor for most Southwest WA households is shade.

If your yard is open and in full sun, Kenda Kikuyu is hard to beat — especially if you’ve got a family that’s going to put it through its paces. If any part of your yard spends meaningful time in shade, or if you’re after a finer, lower-maintenance lawn that looks like it belongs on the cover of a magazine, Sapphire is your grass.

Both varieties are grown fresh on our farm near Busselton and delivered to yards across the region — from Augusta to Perth and everywhere in between. We cut to order, so what you’re getting is as fresh as it gets.

Ready to Choose?

Browse both varieties in our online store and get a quote for delivery to your area. Still not sure? Give us a call — we’re growers, not salespeople, and we’re happy to talk through your yard with you.