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 through 10. Sensitive to freezing temperatures, goes dormant in cooler zones.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam' (a widely used cultivar known for its coarse texture and blue-green color)
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing warm-season turfgrass with a bright to dark blue-green color. It forms a dense, carpet-like sward. Leaves are broad and flat. Unmowed height can reach several inches, but it is typically maintained low. Seed heads are flattened spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse (>4mm wide), flat, with blunt, rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. The ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. The collar region is continuous.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes along the stolons. Forms a moderate amount of thatch. Establishes relatively quickly from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical coastal regions of the Americas, Gulf of Mexico, and West Africa. Thrives in warm, humid coastal climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads aggressively via above-ground runners or stolons), forming a thick, dense turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses, needing at least 4 hours of direct sun). High water needs, moderate drought tolerance with good recovery.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches height every 7-10 days during the growing season. High maintenance level requiring regular fertilization (2-5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually) and frequent watering.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses. Excellent salt tolerance making it popular for coastal areas. Moderate wear tolerance, slower recovery from heavy damage than Bermuda grass.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many tropical and subtropical regions. Provides ground cover and soil stabilization in coastal environments. Can form dense monocultures suppressing weeds.