The first turfgrass to be introduced through Australian Turf Solutions will be Cobalt® Hybrid St. Augustine, marketed in Australia as Cobalt® Hybrid Buffalo grass. Developed by Texas A&M AgriLife breeder Dr. Ambika Chandra using advanced embryo rescue technology, Cobalt represents the world’s first hybrid St. Augustine variety. Dr. Chandra has emphasized that Cobalt will change the way people think about St. Augustine grass and water usage. Selected as an elite line after decades of evaluation against leading St. Augustine grass varieties, Cobalt offers exceptional drought performance and strong overall turfgrass quality. Its top-rated shade tolerance, winter color and wear tolerance make it an ideal choice for landscapes, commercial turfgrass and home lawns throughout Australia. As a low-input, low-maintenance turfgrass, Cobalt is exceptionally well-suited to Australia’s climate and water-use priorities.

Cobalt establishes quickly in sod production, offering efficient farm turnover and high-quality harvest characteristics. Ideal planting windows and production cycles will be provided directly to licensed growers. Initial Cobalt production at ATS will begin in 2026.

“Sod Solutions is excited to work with Australian Turf Solutions as we continue expanding our international footprint,” said Tobey Wagner, Sod Solutions president. “Jessica and David Micallef bring deep industry knowledge, high-quality production, strong relationships, leadership and a shared commitment to sustainable turfgrass innovation. Together, we look forward to delivering high-performance grasses that address Australia’s environmental priorities.”