St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season perennial, C4 metabolism
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or 'Floratam' type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 55°F; susceptible to winter kill in northern transition zones.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with thick, prominent stolons. It forms a dense turf when established, maintaining a dark green color in summer. Seed heads are spike-like racemes with seeds embedded in a flattened, corky rachis.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), short and wide blades with a distinct rounded or blunt tip. Vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent. The collar is constricted and smooth.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes; low thatch tendency if managed; slow to medium establishment speed compared to Bermuda; excellent sod-forming capability.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; widely used in tropical and subtropical climates
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (extensively spreading by thick, above-ground runners); forms a dense, coarse-textured mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses); needs 4-6 hours of sun; moderate to high water needs; moderate drought tolerance though it wilts visibly when stressed.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4.0 inches; frequency every 7-10 days; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; medium maintenance requirement level.
Special Characteristics
High shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high salt tolerance; poor traffic tolerance due to its coarse, succulent stolons; susceptible to Chinch bugs and Large Patch (fungus).
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in many southern US states; provides soil stabilization for sandy coastal soils; generally non-invasive in non-tropical environments due to cold sensitivity; often grown as a mono-stand.