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 8-10, excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (susceptible to frost damage), goes dormant in cooler winters
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
Palmetto or Floratam (commonly used warm-season cultivars)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured lawn with wide, flat blades and blunt tips. Light to dark blue-green color. Mowed height ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 inches. Produces flattened seed spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), flat shape, rounded/blunt tips, light green to blue-green color, folded vernation in the bud, prominent ligule consisting of a fringe of hairs, absent auricles
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolons, moderate establishment speed, moderate thatch tendency, forms a very dense sod with good wear recovery via stolons
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; widely cultivated in the southern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via surface runners (stolons) to form a thick, coarse turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to moderate shade (most shade-tolerant warm-season grass), needs regular watering and high moisture, moderate drought tolerance with dormancy during extreme dry spells, prefers moist, well-draining soils with slightly acidic to neutral pH
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height 2.5 to 4.0 inches, mowed every 7-14 days during growing season, high fertilization needs (2-5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year), periodic dethatching required, medium-high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Moderate traffic/wear tolerance, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, good salt tolerance, excellent shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses, good erosion control
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated turfgrass in many regions, provides limited wildlife habitat compared to native prairie grasses, excellent soil stabilization on coastal properties, forms dense monotypic stands