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' (most common wide-bladed cultivar with good drought tolerance and coarse texture)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 11. Sensitive to freezing temperatures and enters dormancy or suffers winter kill in colder zones.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing, mat-forming turfgrass with flat, broad blades and a bright blue-green to apple-green color. Forms a dense sward when well maintained. Height unmoved can reach 6 to 12 inches, maintained at 2.5 to 4 inches. Produces flattened seed spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse, typically 6mm to 10mm wide, flat, with rounded to blunt tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. The collar region is broad and continuous.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes along the stolons. Establishes relatively quickly from sod or plugs. Forms a thick thatch layer over time.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean; widely cultivated in the southern United States and coastal tropical regions worldwide.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading vigorously via robust surface runners (stolons) that form a thick, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Performs best in full sun but has the best shade tolerance among warm-season turfgrasses, requiring a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight. Requires moderate to high moisture and regular watering; moderate drought tolerance by going dormant during dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches using a rotary mower with sharp blades to prevent tearing. Requires moderate to high maintenance, including regular fertilization (2 to 4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually) and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade and salt tolerance, making it popular for coastal regions. Poor traffic and wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia. Recovers moderately well from stolon spread.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many coastal areas; provides good erosion control on sandy coastal soils and moderate habitat value for small wildlife. Frequently used as a monoculture lawn.