St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Unspecified (Common or Raleigh-like based on appearance)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy when temperatures drop below 55°F; susceptible to winter kill in northern transition zones.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turfgrass with a creeping growth habit. It remains a vibrant medium to dark green during the growing season and turns brown during winter dormancy. It features thick, branched stolons and compressed flowering culms.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is coarse (8-10mm); flat shape with a distinctively rounded or 'boat-shaped' blunt tip; color is medium green; vernation is folded; ligule is a short fringe of hairs; auricles are absent; collar is constricted.
Root System
Mainly fibrous roots arising from stolon nodes; moderate depth; high thatch-forming tendency; moderate establishment speed from sod or plugs; provides good wear recovery but poor drought escape due to lack of deep rhizomes.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; adapted to tropical and subtropical climates
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous; spreads aggressively via thick above-ground runners to form a dense, coarse mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial Sun to Full Sun (excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass); requires at least 4-5 hours of sun; high water needs; moderate drought tolerance; prefers moist, well-draining soils with pH 5.0 to 8.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4.0 inches; weekly frequency; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; high dethatching needs; high maintenance level; primarily established via vegetative means (sod/plugs) rather than seed.
Special Characteristics
Leading shade-tolerant warm-season grass; high salt tolerance (excellent for coastal areas); poor cold tolerance; susceptible to Chinch bugs and Gray Leaf Spot; high traffic tolerance when healthy; thick mat crowds out most weeds.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in many regions; provides soil stabilization for coastal dunes; low wildlife food value but provides cover for small invertebrates; can be invasive in sensitive wetland ecosystems if escaped from lawns.