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, a popular coarse-textured cultivar with blue-green leaves and good disease resistance
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, sensitive to freezing temperatures and enters winter dormancy in cooler parts of its range
About This Grass
Forms a dense, carpet-like turf with coarse texture and vibrant green to blue-green coloration; height ranges from 1 to 3 inches when maintained as a lawn, but can grow much taller if unmowed, producing flattened flower spikes
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with wide blades (often 4-10 mm), flat shape, blunt or rounded tips, folded in the bud (vernation), prominent collar region, membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, and absence of auricles
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes; establishes quickly from sod but slower from plugs; forms a thick thatch layer over time if not managed properly
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, especially the southern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via thick above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses); requires regular watering and moist soils, with moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy during severe dry spells
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using a rotary mower; high maintenance grass requiring regular fertilization, frequent watering, and periodic dethatching
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance and moderate salt tolerance, but poor wear and foot traffic tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia; susceptible to chinch bugs and large patch disease
Ecological Information
Introduced in many non-native regions; excellent for coastal erosion control and soil stabilization due to its dense stolon network; provides low wildlife habitat value compared to native prairie grasses