St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11. Sensitive to freezing temperatures, goes dormant and turns brown in cooler winters.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam (widely planted cultivar known for its coarse texture and purple stolons)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, aggressive, coarse-textured turf with flat, blue-green to dark green blades. Unmowed height reaches 6 to 12 inches. It features distinct seed heads arranged on a flattened spike-like rachis.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse (over 4-8mm wide), flat, with blunt, rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. The collar region is continuous and broad.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes. Forms a thick layer of thatch over time. Moderate establishment speed from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical coastal regions globally, well-adapted to the Gulf Coast and southeastern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via thick, flat, above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most warm-season grasses). High water needs during establishment and active growth; moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches. Requires regular mowing during growing season, medium to high fertilization (2-5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), frequent dethatching, and moderate maintenance.
Special Characteristics
Good salt tolerance making it ideal for coastal regions. Poor heavy traffic wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia. Susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/naturalized in many subtropical regions. Provides soil stabilization and erosion control in coastal sandy soils. High invasive potential in tropical climates where it can escape cultivation.