St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (susceptible to frost damage and winter dormancy discoloration below 50°F).
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam' (coarse texture, blue-green color, excellent sun and drought tolerance)
About This Grass
Forms a thick, lush, coarse-textured carpet with vibrant blue-green to dark green blades. Unmowed height reaches 6 to 12 inches, maintained at 2.5 to 4 inches. Produces a flat, spike-like seed head at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are broad and flat (coarse texture, generally 4-10 mm wide), 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
Moderate to deep fibrous root system originating from nodes along the stolons. Forms a moderate to high amount of thatch. Establishes relatively quickly from sod or plugs. Good wear recovery when managed properly.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean coasts; widely cultivated in the southern United States and tropical regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via robust above-ground runners (stolons) and forming a dense, thick, carpet-like turf
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses). Needs moderate to high watering (1 inch of water per week). Moderate drought tolerance by going dormant during severe dry periods. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches high every 5 to 7 days during active growing season. Fertilize 2 to 4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year. Regular dethatching and occasional aeration needed due to rapid stolon production. High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Moderate traffic and wear tolerance (lower than Bermuda or Zoysia). Good salt tolerance, making it ideal for coastal areas. Moderate shade tolerance. Prone to chinch bugs, take-all root rot, and gray leaf spot. Excellent erosion control.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many tropical and subtropical areas. Provides good ground cover and soil stabilization along coastal regions, preventing erosion. Offers limited wildlife value compared to native prairies, but supports ground-dwelling insects and small urban wildlife.