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. 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' (most common wide-bladed cultivar with good color and fast growth)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured carpet with flat blades and a medium-light to dark green color. Height ranges from 1 to 3 inches when maintained. Produces flat, spike-like seed heads at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), flat shape, rounded or blunt tips, medium to light green color, folded in the bud (vernation). Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles are absent, and the collar region is continuous.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous roots originating from stolon nodes, establishing a thick thatch layer with medium to fast growth speed. Forms a dense sod with good wear recovery via stolons, though prone to compaction.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of the southeastern United States, West Indies, and tropical regions worldwide. Thrives best in warm, humid coastal climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via long above-ground runners (stolons) to form a thick, coarse 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 during establishment, moderate to high ongoing needs; low drought tolerance compared to Bermuda, entering dormancy or wilting under severe stress.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using rotary mowers. Medium to high maintenance level, requiring regular fertilization (2 to 4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year), frequent watering, and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Moderate traffic/wear tolerance (lower than Bermuda or Zoysia), susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, good salt tolerance (ideal for coastal properties), moderate shade tolerance, excellent weed-crowding ability.
Ecological Information
Introduced/naturalized in many tropical and subtropical regions. Provides moderate wildlife cover, excellent soil stabilization and erosion control in coastal areas, and is rarely used in seed mixes due to its establishment via sod, plugs, or sprigs.