St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common St. Augustine / Floratam type phenotype
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11. Excellent heat tolerance but poor cold tolerance; will enter dormancy and turn brown after the first hard frost.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with a vibrant medium-to-dark green color. It exhibits a creeping growth pattern with thick, fleshy stolons and wide blades that create a lush, carpet-like appearance when well-maintained.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), flat shape with a distinctively blunt, rounded (boat-shaped/rounded) tip. Vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent. The collar is continuous and somewhat constricted.
Root System
Fibrous and relatively shallow to moderate depth. It relies heavily on stolons for lateral expansion. High thatch-forming tendency due to stolon density; establishment is fast from sod or plugs but not available via seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; adapted to tropical and subtropical climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous; spreads aggressively via above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, thick mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial Sun to Full Sun; one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses. Requires 4-6 hours of sun. High water needs; poor drought tolerance compared to Bermuda, preferring moist, well-drained soils with pH 6.0-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4.0 inches. Mowed every 7-10 days. Requires 2-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually. High maintenance level due to water needs and susceptibility to thatch buildup.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high salt tolerance (good for coastal areas). Poor wear tolerance (sensitive to heavy foot traffic); susceptible to Chinch bugs and Gray Leaf Spot disease.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in the US. Provides dense ground cover for soil stabilization in coastal zones. Used primarily in home lawns rather than wild meadows; not considered invasive in managed landscapes but can crowd out other grasses.