St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam' or common St. Augustine, known for coarse texture and blue-green color
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10; highly sensitive to cold temperatures and goes dormant in the northern parts of its range
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured, bright to blue-green turf with flat, broad blades and blunt tips; grows vigorously in warm, humid climates
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (greater than 4mm), flat shape with rounded or blunt tips, folded vernation in the bud, smooth texture, continuous prominent midvein, membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, and absent auricles
Root System
Shallow to moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes; moderate to high thatch tendency; establishes quickly from sod or plugs
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean; widely cultivated in the southern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via robust above-ground runners (stolons) to form a thick, coarse turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most warm-season grasses); high water needs during active growth; moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height between 2.5 to 4 inches; high maintenance level requiring regular fertilization, frequent mowing, and periodic dethatching
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, moderate salt tolerance, poor heavy traffic/wear tolerance compared to Bermuda, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated turfgrass in many subtropical regions, provides ground cover and erosion control, minimal wildlife food value, often grown as a monoculture lawn