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 8-10, excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (susceptible to damage below 25°F), goes dormant in winter.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turfgrass with broad flat blades, bright blue-green to dark green color, and high density when actively growing. Forms thick above-ground stolons (runners) and enters winter dormancy in cooler parts of its range, turning brown.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat to folded shape with rounded to blunt tips, bright blue-green color, folded vernation in the bud, prominent veins, membranous short ligule, and absent auricles.
Root System
Moderate depth root system with fibrous roots arising from stolon nodes. Moderate to high thatch tendency, fast establishment from sod or plugs, and good density that crowds out weeds but moderate wear recovery.
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 above ground via thick stolons to form a dense, carpet-like mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most warm-season grasses), requires regular moisture during growing season, moderate drought tolerance with dormancy during extended dry spells, best in moist fertile soils with pH 6.0-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 3.5 inches every 7-10 days, moderate to high fertilizer needs (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year), regular dethatching needed due to thick stolons, medium-high overall maintenance.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, moderate salt tolerance (ideal for coastal areas), low wear tolerance compared to Bermuda, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, excellent erosion control.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated across the American South, provides moderate wildlife cover in urban settings, forms dense stabilizing mats that prevent soil erosion and filter runoff, generally non-invasive outside managed landscapes.