St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam', a widely used cultivar known for its coarse texture, blue-green color, and resistance to St. Augustine Decline (SAD) virus.
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Sensitive to hard frosts and low winter temperatures below 20°F (-6°C).
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turfgrass with flat blades and blunt tips. Forms a very dense, carpet-like mat through extensive above-ground stolons. Color ranges from light to deep blue-green during the active growing season. Turns straw-colored when dormant in cooler regions.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with flat blades measuring 4 to 10 mm wide. Tips are distinctly rounded and blunt. Leaves are folded in the bud (vernation). Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. Collar is broad and continuous.
Root System
Shallow to moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes on the stolons. Forms a moderate to high amount of thatch. Establishes rapidly from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of the southeastern United States, and the Caribbean. Thrives in warm, humid coastal climates.
Growth Habit
Aggressively stoloniferous with above-ground runners, forming a thick, spongy, dense turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade; possesses the best shade tolerance among warm-season turfgrasses. Needs moderate to high watering and has moderate drought tolerance, entering dormancy during severe dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 3.5 inches using a sharp rotary mower. Medium maintenance level requiring regular fertilization (2 to 4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually) and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance and moderate salt tolerance, making it ideal for coastal lawns. Poor traffic and wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia. Susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms, and large patch disease.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized widely across coastal subtropical regions. Provides soil stabilization and erosion control in sandy coastal soils. Serves as ground cover and habitat for various insects and small urban wildlife.