St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Palmetto or Floratam
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (goes dormant or suffers winter damage below freezing).
About This Grass
Forms a coarse-textured, dense, low-growing turf with bright to blue-green blades. Mowed height ranges from 2.5 to 4 inches, while unmowed growth can reach 6 to 12 inches with spike-like seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are wide (>5mm), flat, with blunt, rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes. Forms a thick layer of thatch quickly. Fast establishment from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; widely cultivated in the Southern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via robust above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to moderate shade (most shade-tolerant warm-season grass). Needs regular watering and moist soils, with good tolerance to temporary flooding but moderate drought tolerance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches high. High maintenance level requiring regular fertilization (2 to 4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), frequent watering, and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance and salt tolerance; moderate traffic tolerance with good recovery via stolons; susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated across the southern coastal US. Provides ground cover and soil stabilization against erosion, with moderate wildlife value.