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. Low cold tolerance, going dormant and losing color with the first frost; sensitive to freezing temperatures.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam', a widely grown cultivar known for its coarse texture, blue-green color, and resistance to St. Augustine Decline (SAD) virus.
About This Grass
Forms a thick, coarse, lush turf with a bright to dark green color. Unmowed height can reach 6 to 12 inches, while maintained height is typically 2.5 to 4 inches. Seed heads are flat spikes with spikelets embedded on one side of a flattened rachis.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with blade width generally 4-10mm. Blades are flat, smooth, with blunt or rounded tips, folded in the bud (vernation). Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles are absent, and the collar is continuous.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes along the stolons. Forms a dense sod with moderate thatch-forming tendencies. Establishes relatively quickly from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the Gulf Coast of the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Performs best in warm, humid climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via robust above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, carpet-like turf.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses, requiring at least 4 hours of direct sunlight). High water needs for optimal appearance; fair to moderate drought tolerance where it goes into dormancy under severe drought.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using a rotary mower with sharp blades. High maintenance level requiring regular irrigation, fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance and salt tolerance making it popular in coastal regions. Fair wear tolerance, but slower to recover from traffic damage compared to Bermuda or Zoysia. Susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms, and large patch disease.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in many non-native regions. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control in coastal sandy soils due to its dense matting stolons. Often used in monoculture lawns.