St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Standard / Florida Common (likely)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10; sensitive to prolonged freezing temperatures. Becomes dormant and turns tan/brown when temperatures drop below 55°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with a dense, mat-forming habit. It maintains a medium-to-dark green color during the growing season and produces short, spike-like seed heads with seeds embedded in a thickened rachis.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm); flat shape with a distinct rounded (boat-shaped) tip. Deep green color with folded vernation. The ligule is a fringe of short hairs, and auricles are absent. Leaves are arranged oppositely along the stolon.
Root System
Fibrous and moderately deep, emerging from nodes along the stolons. Slow to establish from seed (primarily stolon/sod-based) with a significant thatch-forming tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Western Africa. Thrives in sub-tropical, humid coastal climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous; spreads aggressively above ground via thick, fleshy creeping stems. Does not produce rhizomes.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial Sun to Full Sun; one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses (needs 4-6 hours). High water requirements; poor drought tolerance compared to Bermuda.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 2.5–4.0 inches; frequency every 5-7 days during peak growth. Medium maintenance: requires 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually and periodic vertical mowing to manage thatch.
Special Characteristics
Excellent salt tolerance (ideal for coastal areas), high shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, and high wear tolerance once established. Susceptible to Chinch bugs and Gray Leaf Spot.
Ecological Information
Native to tropical coastal regions; provides soil stabilization for sandy soils. Not considered invasive in its native range but can displace native vegetation in sensitive wetlands if escaped. Usually grown as a monoculture.