St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or Floratam-like variety (highly probable based on broad blades)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when soil temps drop below 55°F
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with wide blades and a deep blue-green color. It forms a thick sod carpet through vigorous stolon growth. Under un-mowed conditions, it develops thick spikes as seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), folded vernation, rounded/blunt tip, compressed and keeled sheaths, fringe of hairs for a ligule, auricles absent, collar is constricted
Root System
Fibrous and relatively deep for a turfgrass; spreads via thick stolons; moderate thatch tendency; relatively slow establishment from seed but fast from sod/plugs
Growing Information
Origin Region
Coastal regions of Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; well-adapted to humid subtropical climates
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick creeping stems above ground), forming a dense, coarse-textured mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses); high water requirements; moderate drought tolerance but wilts quickly without moisture; prefers pH 6.0-7.5
Mowing & Maintenance
2.5 to 4.0 inches height; weekly frequency during peak summer; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; high maintenance due to water and pest needs
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance compared to Bermuda; good salt tolerance for coastal areas; low traffic tolerance compared to Zoysia; susceptible to Chinch bugs and Large Patch (Rhizoctonia)
Ecological Information
Native to tropical/subtropical coasts; provides soil stabilization in sandy areas; low wildlife value in lawn form; can be aggressive in optimal climates but rarely invasive in dry inland areas