St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10; excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (susceptible to damage below freezing); does well in the southern coastal transition zones.
About This Grass
Forms a thick, carpet-like lawn with coarse texture and bright to blue-green color. Mown height typically ranges from 2.5 to 4 inches, while unmown plants can reach 6 to 12 inches.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades wider than 4mm, flat shape, blunt or rounded tips, bright green to blue-green color, folded vernation in the bud, with a membranous ligule and absent or very small auricles.
Root System
Moderate depth fibrous root system with extensive stolons. Moderate thatch-forming tendency, establishes quickly from sod, and forms a dense, spongy sod layer.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions around the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Western Africa; widely cultivated across the southern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively by flat, above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse-textured turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses); high watering needs during dry spells; moderate drought tolerance with dormancy during severe drought; prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches; requires frequent mowing during active growth; fertilization needs are moderate to high (2-5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); high maintenance level overall.
Special Characteristics
Moderate traffic and wear tolerance, good recovery from stolons, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, high salt tolerance making it ideal for coastal areas, poor cold hardiness.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in warm coastal regions; provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on sandy soils; can become invasive in moist tropical habitats.