St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10; excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (suffers winter injury below freezing).
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam
About This Grass
Forms a thick, carpet-like turf with coarse, broad leaves. Vibrant green color in the growing season, turning brown upon entering winter dormancy.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with flat blades wider than 4mm, rounded to obtuse tips, folded in the bud (vernation), smooth texture with no prominent auricles and a very short, membranous ligule.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system anchored by vigorous above-ground stolons; establishes quickly from sod but has moderate thatch-forming tendencies.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and coastal areas worldwide.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via flat above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse-textured turf.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most warm-season grasses); high watering needs for optimal appearance, with moderate drought tolerance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches; medium to high maintenance level requiring regular fertilization, frequent mowing, and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance and salt tolerance for a warm-season grass, but low traffic/wear tolerance and poor recovery from heavy damage.
Ecological Information
Introduced in many non-native regions as a primary coastal lawn grass, provides good erosion control on sandy soils, and creates dense habitat cover for small insects.