St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Coastal Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
'Palmetto' or 'Floratam', notable for shade tolerance or vivid color and broader blades
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, sensitive to hard frosts and prolonged freezing temperatures, goes dormant and turns brown in winter in cooler parts of its range
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured turf with blue-green to bright green leaves; height ranges from 2 to 3 inches when maintained; can grow up to 6-12 inches if unmowed; produces flattened seed spikes
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with wide blades (4-10 mm), flat shape, rounded or blunt tips, folded in the bud (vernation), smooth texture, short membranous ligule, and absent auricles
Root System
Moderate depth fibrous root system originating from nodes along the stolons; moderate to high thatch-forming tendency; rapid establishment from sod; forms a dense sod but poor wear recovery compared to bermuda
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, widely cultivated across the southern United States, Gulf Coast, and coastal regions globally
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via thick surface runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse-textured turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to moderate shade (most shade-tolerant warm-season grass); high watering needs during establishment and dry periods; moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy; prefers moist, fertile soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 3.5 inches; mow every 7-10 days during the growing season; fertilization needs are moderate to high (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); regular dethatching and aeration required; medium maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Low to moderate traffic and wear tolerance; susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms, and large patch disease; excellent salt tolerance making it ideal for coastal lawns; good erosion control; poor shade-to-sun recovery
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated turfgrass in many areas; provides ground cover and stabilizes sandy coastal soils; low wildlife food value compared to native grasses; commonly grown as a monoculture lawn