St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or 'Palmetto' (frequently planted in the Gulf Coast region due to shade and heat tolerance)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, highly sensitive to freezing temperatures, goes dormant and turns brown with the first hard frost.
About This Grass
Forms a coarse-textured, dense, blue-green to dark green carpet. Typical unmowed height can reach several inches, but maintained lawns are kept lower. Produces flat, spike-like seed heads at maturity on flattened stems.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades wider than 4-7mm, flat with rounded tips, folded vernation in the bud, prominent collar region with a fringe of hairs representing the ligule, and no auricles.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes, moderate to high thatch tendency, fast establishment from sod or plugs, forms a dense sod that crowds out weeds well.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and tropical regions worldwide. Performs best in hot, humid coastal climates.
Growth Habit
Aggressively stoloniferous, spreading via thick above-ground runners (stolons) that form a coarse, dense turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Tolerates partial shade quite well compared to other warm-season grasses (needs at least 4 hours of direct sun), requires regular watering, moderate drought tolerance, prefers moist, well-draining soils with a neutral pH.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches high every 7-10 days during the growing season. Moderate to high maintenance level, requiring regular fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year) and occasional dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Moderate traffic and wear tolerance, good shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, poor cold tolerance, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, excellent salt spray tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/native coastal status depending on exact region, provides good erosion control on coastal soils and slopes, filters runoff effectively, forms monocultures easily due to aggressive stolon growth.
Notes
Found in front yard, shaded during morning full sun in afternoon. In southeast Louisiana. Hot and humid