St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (susceptible to frost damage and winter dormancy discoloration below 50°F).
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam
About This Grass
Forms a lush, dense, carpet-like turf with coarse texture and bright blue-green to green color. Unmowed height reaches 6 to 12 inches, but typically maintained at 2.5 to 4 inches. Produces flat, thick seed spikes at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with wide blades (ranging from 4 to 10 mm), flat shape, blunt or rounded tips, bright blue-green to dark green color, folded in the bud (vernation), short membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, and absent auricles.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes. Prone to thatch buildup if over-fertilized. Fast establishment from sod, moderate from plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical coastal regions around the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. Widely cultivated in the Southern United States and warm coastal regions worldwide.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via flat above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse-textured sod.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses requiring a minimum of 4 hours of direct sun). High water needs for optimal appearance; moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy during severe dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using a rotary mower with sharp blades to prevent tearing. Medium to high maintenance requiring regular fertilization (2 to 4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually) and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Moderate to low traffic/wear tolerance due to spongy stolons. Susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms, and fungal diseases like take-all root rot and brown patch. Good salt tolerance, making it ideal for coastal properties.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in many non-native regions. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on coastal soils. Limited wildlife food value compared to native grasses, primarily serving as ground cover in urban and suburban landscapes.