St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto' based on commonality and blade width
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy (turns brown) when soil temperatures drop below 55°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass that forms a plush, carpet-like turf. It is bright to dark green in color and maintains color well into the fall. Seed heads are spike-like racemes with seeds embedded in a thickened rachis.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (>4mm), folded vernation, rounded or boat-shaped tips, smooth texture with a prominent midrib, fringe of hairs for a ligule, and no auricles.
Root System
Fibrous and dense, primarily developing from nodes along the stolons; moderate depth; high thatch-forming tendency; moderate establishment speed from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Gulf of Mexico region, West Indies, and Western Africa; commonly grown in the Southern United States and coastal regions
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via aggressive above-ground runners), forms a thick, dense mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial sun to full sun (one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses); requires regular watering (approx 1 inch per week); moderate drought tolerance; prefers well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4.0 inches; weekly frequency; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft annually; high maintenance level requirement for water and pest monitoring.
Special Characteristics
High salt tolerance, excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, moderate wear tolerance, but slow to recover from heavy damage; susceptible to Chinch bugs and Large Patch disease.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in the US; excellent for soil stabilization in coastal or sandy areas; typically planted as a monoculture but may host various insects and larvae in a landscape ecosystem.