St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10; poor cold tolerance, turns straw-colored and enters dormancy with the first hard frost; highly sensitive to freezing temperatures
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
'Palmetto' or 'Floratam', known for broad, flat blades and rapid stoloniferous spread
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured turf with broad, flat blades, bright blue-green to dark green in color; aggressive creeping habit via robust stolons; typical unmowed height ranges from 6 to 12 inches, maintained much lower at 2.5 to 4 inches; produces flat, spike-like seed heads
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse (>4mm wide, typically 6-10mm), flat, with rounded, blunt tips; light to dark blue-green color; rolled in the bud (vernation); ligule is a fringe of hairs; auricles absent; prominent collar region
Root System
Shallow to moderately deep fibrous root system with extensive above-ground stolons; establishes rapidly from sod or plugs; moderate to high thatch tendency; forms a thick, spongy sod
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of the southeastern United States, and the Caribbean, widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via thick, above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, 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 entering dormancy during severe dry spells; prefers moist, fertile, well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches using a sharp rotary mower to prevent tearing the coarse leaves; requires regular frequent mowing during peak growing season; moderate to high fertilization (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); regular dethatching and aeration needed; high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Low to moderate traffic and wear tolerance due to succulent stolons; susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms, and large patch fungus; excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; poor drought tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia; moderate salt tolerance making it popular for coastal areas
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in coastal and tropical regions; provides ground cover, soil stabilization, and erosion control in sandy coastal soils; low wildlife forage value compared to native grasses; often grown as a monoculture lawn grass without companion turfgrasses