St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
'Palmetto' or 'Floratam' (common cultivars known for texture and color variations)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10; sensitive to hard freezes and low temperatures; goes dormant or suffers winter damage below freezing; widely used in coastal and southern transition zones
About This Grass
Forms a lush, dense carpet with flat, wide, blunt-tipped blades; medium to dark green color; grows aggressively via stolons; heights range from 1 to 3 inches when maintained; seed heads are flattened spikes
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with wide blades (often 4-10 mm); flat shape with distinct rounded or blunt tips; folded in the bud (vernation); light to dark green color; continuous midrib with smooth margins; membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs; auricles absent
Root System
Shallow to moderate fibrous root system arising from stolon nodes; moderate to high thatch tendency; establishes quickly from sod or plugs; forms a thick, spongy mat
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and coastal areas worldwide; well-adapted to the southern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via robust surface runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse-textured sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Performs best in full sun but has the best shade tolerance among warm-season turfgrasses; requires moderate to high water; low drought tolerance compared to Bermuda grass; prefers moist, fertile soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using a sharp rotary mower; requires frequent mowing during the active growing season; high fertilization needs (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); regular dethatching and aeration required; medium-high maintenance
Special Characteristics
Poor traffic and wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia; susceptible to chinch bugs, take-all root rot, and brown patch; moderate salt tolerance; excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; poor drought recovery
Ecological Information
Introduced/naturalized in many southern regions; provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on coastal sites; used as a primary home lawn turf in the American South; low invasive tendency outside of managed landscapes