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 hard frosts and prolonged freezing temperatures, going dormant in the cooler parts of its range.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam (coarse texture, bright green color, high resistance to St. Augustine decline virus)
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing, dense turfgrass with flat, broad blades and a bright green to blue-green color. Mown height typically ranges from 2.5 to 4 inches. Unmowed, it can grow up to 6 to 12 inches with a flattened seed spike.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with wide blades (4-10 mm), flat shape, rounded or blunt tips, bright to dark green color, folded vernation in the bud, smooth texture, continuous midrib, short membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, and absent or rudimentary auricles.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes. Forms a thick thatch layer over time, fast establishment from sod or plugs, moderate drought tolerance, and slow recovery from heavy wear.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and tropical regions worldwide. Best adapted to the southern United States and tropical/subtropical climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads aggressively via above-ground runners called stolons) forming a dense, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Performs best in full sun but is the most shade-tolerant warm-season turfgrass. Requires regular watering (approx. 1 inch of water per week) and has moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy during severe dry spells. Prefers moist, well-draining soils with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches using a sharp rotary mower to prevent tearing the wide blades. High maintenance level requiring regular fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), frequent dethatching due to rapid stolon growth, and periodic weed and insect management.
Special Characteristics
Moderate to low traffic/wear tolerance, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, good salt tolerance for coastal environments, excellent shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses, poor winter color retention in the upper bounds of its zone.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many tropical and subtropical regions. Provides ground cover and soil stabilization against coastal erosion, low wildlife food value, can crowd out weeds when dense, typically planted as a monoculture lawn.