St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Sensitive to hard frosts and extreme cold.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
'Palmetto' St. Augustine Grass
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured lawn with a vibrant bright green to medium green color. It maintains good color in warmth but goes dormant and turns straw-colored under frost conditions. Mowed low, it shows visible stolon networks.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat, with blunt, rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system with aggressive stolons. Moderate to high thatch-forming tendency. Fast establishment from sod, slow from plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions around the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. Cultivated extensively in the Southern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively by flat, above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade; uniquely shade-tolerant among warm-season grasses. Needs regular watering (1 inch per week) and moderate drought tolerance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height between 2.5 to 3.5 inches. High maintenance level requiring regular fertilization, frequent mowing, and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Poor traffic and wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia. Good shade tolerance, moderate salt tolerance, and fair drought recovery via stolons.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated turfgrass in many non-native regions. Provides ground cover and soil stabilization, though low wildlife forage value. Can crowd out weeds effectively when healthy.