St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season perennial, C4 metabolism
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto' (indicated by coarse blade width and stolon pigmentation visible)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 55°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with a deep blue-green to medium-green color. It forms a thick, spongy sod and produces flattened, spike-like seed heads (racemes) where seeds are embedded in the stalk.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (8-10mm), flat shape with a distinct boat-shaped or rounded tip. Vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent. The leaf sheath is highly compressed and flattened.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes; high thatch-forming tendency; slow to moderate establishment speed from plugs or sod (rarely grown from seed).
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Africa; adapted to tropical and subtropical climates
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via aggressive above-ground runners), forming a dense, thick mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (moderate shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses); high water needs for best appearance; moderate drought tolerance but wilts quickly without moisture.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height of 3.0 to 4.0 inches; weekly frequency; fertilization of 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year; high maintenance due to water and pest requirements.
Special Characteristics
Excellent salt tolerance (ideal for coastal areas); poor traffic tolerance due to coarse, succulent stolons; susceptible to Chinch bugs and Gray Leaf Spot.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in the Southern US; provides soil stabilization for sandy coastal soils; generally non-invasive in non-tropical climates; often grown as a monoculture.