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 through 10. Sensitive to freezing temperatures, entering winter dormancy in cooler zones.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
Common St. Augustine / Floratam (typical broad-leaved warm-season turf)
About This Grass
Forms a thick, carpet-like turf with coarse-textured, flat blades. Color ranges from light to dark blue-green. Unmowed height can reach 6 to 12 inches, but typically maintained at 2.5 to 4 inches. The image prominently shows active stolons and young shoots, alongside patches treated with a selective herbicide (like Torocity/mesotrione) causing the classic white/bleached symptom on susceptible grassy weeds or competing turf.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with wide blades (>4mm wide), flat shape, blunt or rounded tips, folded vernation in the bud, prominent midrib, smooth texture, short membranous ligule, and absent auricles.
Root System
Shallow to moderately deep fibrous root system originating from thick nodes on the above-ground stolons. Forms a moderate amount of thatch and establishes 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.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and aggressively creeping above ground, forming a dense, coarse-textured sod.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses). High watering needs during establishment and dry periods; moderate drought tolerance entering dormancy during extreme dry spells. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches high using a sharp rotary mower. Medium to high maintenance depending on fertilization (2 to 4 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft annually) and irrigation requirements.
Special Characteristics
Low traffic/wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia. Susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms, and fungal diseases like take-all root rot and large patch. Excellent salt tolerance, making it popular in coastal regions.
Ecological Information
Introduced and widely cultivated in coastal southern lawns. Provides standard urban wildlife cover, though low native biodiversity value. Good erosion control in sandy coastal soils.