St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (susceptible to frost damage and enters dormancy or winterkill below freezing).
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured lawn with a blue-green to bright green color. Unmowed height can reach 6-12 inches, but typically maintained at 2.5-4 inches. Seed heads are flattened spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse (>4mm wide), flat, with rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles are absent, and the collar is continuous.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes. Forms a dense sod with moderate thatch-forming tendencies. Establishes rapidly from sod and stolons.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and parts of South America and Africa. Widely cultivated in warm, humid tropical and subtropical regions.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via above-ground runners (stolons) to form a thick, coarse, carpet-like turf.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses). High water needs during active growth, with moderate drought tolerance entering dormancy during severe dry spells. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH of 6.0-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintain at 2.5 to 4 inches using a sharp rotary mower. Medium-high maintenance level, requiring regular fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually) and occasional dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Low to moderate wear tolerance due to succulent stolons. Good salt tolerance, making it popular in coastal regions. Poor recovery from severe damage compared to Bermuda grass.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized widely across warm coastal regions. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on sandy coastal soils. Serves as a habitat for various turf insects and small wildlife.