St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam' (most common wide-bladed cultivar with good color and fast growth)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Low cold tolerance; goes completely dormant and can suffer winter kill below freezing temperatures.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, dense, low-growing turfgrass with broad flat blades and a bright blue-green to dark green color. Forms a thick, spongy carpet. Unmowed height can reach 6 to 12 inches, but typically maintained at 2.5 to 4 inches.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse (>4mm wide), flat, with blunt, rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. The ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent. The collar is continuous and broad.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system combined with robust surface stolons. Forms a moderate amount of thatch. Establishes rapidly from sod, moderately from plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of tropical and subtropical America, and West Africa. Thrives in warm, humid coastal climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and aggressively spreading above ground via thick runners, forming a coarse, dense turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses). Needs regular watering (1 inch per week) and has moderate drought tolerance, entering dormancy during severe dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using a rotary mower. Mowed weekly during active summer growth. Requires medium to high maintenance, including regular fertilization and occasional dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent salt tolerance (ideal for coastal properties), good shade tolerance relative to other warm-season turf, moderate wear tolerance, but susceptible to chinch bugs and large patch disease.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated across southern coastal regions. Provides ground cover and soil stabilization against erosion. Low wildlife forage value compared to native grasses, primarily used for residential and commercial turf landscaping.