St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
'Palmetto', 'Floratam', or 'Raleigh' - known for varying degrees of shade tolerance, cold hardiness, and color intensity
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Susceptible to freeze damage in colder zones and goes dormant (turning brown) in cooler winter temperatures.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, dense, low-growing turfgrass with broad blades and a bright blue-green to dark green color. Forms a thick, spongy sod. Unmowed height can reach 6 to 12 inches, but typically maintained lower.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with flat blades generally exceeding 5mm in width. Tips are rounded or blunt. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. Distinct collar region.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes on the stolons. Forms a moderate to heavy thatch layer. Establishes relatively quickly from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of the southeastern United States, and the Caribbean. Thrives in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide.
Growth Habit
Aggressively stoloniferous, forming a thick, coarse, carpet-like turf by spreading rapidly via above-ground runners (stolons).
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most other warm-season grasses, needing at least 4 hours of direct sunlight). High water needs during dry periods; moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using a rotary mower. Requires moderate to high maintenance, including regular watering, frequent mowing during peak growing season, and moderate fertilization.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, moderate salt tolerance making it popular for coastal properties. Fair wear tolerance, but slow to recover from severe damage compared to Bermuda grass due to coarser stolon growth.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated widely in coastal and southern regions. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes and coastal areas. High wildlife cover value for small ground-dwelling fauna.