St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or 'Floratam' type characteristic
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance (damaged below 20°F); survives in the transition zone with significant winter dormancy.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turfgrass that forms a dense, spongy blue-green carpet. It features thick, compressed stolons and maintains color well into the fall but goes dormant and turns brown after the first hard frost.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat, with a distinct rounded or blunt tip. Color ranges from medium to dark green. Vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a short fringe of hairs; auricles are absent; collar is constricted.
Root System
Relatively shallow fibrous root system emanating from stolon nodes; high thatch-forming tendency; moderate establishment speed from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, West Indies, and Western Africa; well-adapted to subtropical and tropical coastal areas
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick above-ground runners); heavy mat-forming tendency
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun but has excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass. High water needs; poor drought tolerance compared to Bermuda, requiring frequent irrigation during dry spells. Prefers pH 5.0 to 8.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4.0 inches. Frequency: weekly during peak growth. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually. High maintenance level due to water and pest needs.
Special Characteristics
Highest shade tolerance of warm-season grasses; good salt tolerance for coastal regions; poor wear tolerance (recovers slowly from heavy traffic); susceptible to Chinch bugs and Gray Leaf Spot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in many regions; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal soils; low wildlife value; non-invasive in non-tropical climates; often grown as a monoculture.