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' or 'Floratam' (common cultivars known for texture and color variations)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Sensitive to hard frosts and extreme cold, goes dormant in cooler winters.
About This Grass
Forms a lush, dense, carpet-like turf with coarse texture and vibrant blue-green to apple-green color. Mown height typically ranges from 2.5 to 4 inches, while unmowed growth can reach up to 6 to 12 inches with flattened seed spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are wide (coarse, typically 4-10 mm), flat, with blunt, rounded tips. Folded vernation in the bud, short membranous ligule, and absent or small auricles. Smooth texture with a light to medium green color.
Root System
Moderate to shallow fibrous root system with aggressive stolons rooting at the nodes. Forms a moderate thatch layer, establishes quickly from sod, and has moderate drought tolerance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas, and tropical regions worldwide. Well-adapted to the southern United States and tropical/subtropical climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via above-ground runners (stolons) to form a thick, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than many other warm-season grasses). High water needs during active growth, moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy during severe dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow high at 2.5 to 4 inches. Medium to high maintenance level, requiring regular fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually) and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, moderate salt tolerance (good for coastal areas), low wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia, and susceptible to chinch bugs and brown patch disease.
Ecological Information
Introduced/naturalized in many subtropical regions, highly effective for erosion control in coastal sandy soils, provides limited wildlife habitat, and forms monocultures that crowd out weeds when healthy.