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 and turns brown in cold winters. Does poorly in the cool transition zone.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam (coarser, wider blades, highly popular in southern US)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, lush, coarse-textured carpet with vibrant bright to dark green color. Height ranges from 1 to 3 inches when maintained. Produces flat, thick seed spikes (panicles) at maturity when left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture (>4mm width), flat blades with blunt, rounded tips. Folded vernation in the bud. Smooth texture with light green to blue-green color. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles are absent.
Root System
Moderate depth with thick, fibrous roots and aggressive stolons. Tends to form moderate thatch. Establishes relatively quickly from sod or plugs. Forms a tightly knit sod that offers good erosion control.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; widely cultivated in the southeastern United States and warm coastal regions globally.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via above-ground runners (stolons) to form a thick, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than many warm-season grasses, needing at least 4 hours of direct sun). High water needs during active growth; moderate to poor drought tolerance, going dormant or wilting quickly under severe water stress. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using a sharp rotary mower. Frequency is weekly during peak growing season. Medium to high maintenance level, requiring regular fertilization (2 to 4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year) and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Moderate wear tolerance (does not recover from heavy traffic as fast as Bermuda), good salt tolerance (ideal for coastal areas), moderate to good shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses. Susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated in many regions outside its native coastal habitats. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control in coastal lawns. Offers limited wildlife food value but serves as ground cover. Often grown as a monoculture lawn.