St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Floratam' or common variety based on stolon thickness
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy below 50°F and can suffer winter kill in Zone 8 during extreme freezes.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turfgrass with a creeping habit. Forms a thick, dense carpet. Color is typically deep blue-green, and it maintains color well into autumn. Seed heads are spike-like racemes with seeds embedded in a thickened rachis.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), folded vernation, rounded or boat-shaped tips. Leaves are smooth with a constricted collar. Ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent.
Root System
Fibrous root system arising from stolon nodes; moderate depth; high thatch-forming tendency; slow to moderate establishment speed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Coastal regions of Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Africa; pans-tropical
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick above-ground runners)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses. High water requirements; requires regular irrigation to maintain density; moderate drought tolerance.
Mowing & Maintenance
2.5 to 4.0 inches height; weekly mowing; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance due to thatch and pest potential.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high salt tolerance (good for coastal areas); poor wear tolerance; susceptible to Large Patch and Chinch bugs.
Ecological Information
Native to tropical coastal regions; provides soil stabilization in sandy areas; not considered invasive in managed landscapes but can escape in tropical wetlands.