St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or 'Floratam' (typical coarse-textured, stoloniferous cultivar)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, sensitive to hard frosts and prolonged freezing temperatures, entering winter dormancy in cooler parts of its range.
About This Grass
Forms a coarse, dense, bluish-green to dark green carpet-like turf. Can grow several inches tall if unmanaged but is typically maintained low. Notable for its flat, broad stems and stolons.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse (>4mm wide), flat, with blunt, rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. The collar region features a fringe of hairs representing the ligule, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system produced at the nodes of thick stolons. Moderate establishment speed, forms a thick thatch layer over time, with fair drought tolerance and good recovery via stolons.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, widely cultivated in the southern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively by thick, flat above-ground runners (stolons) with short internodes, forming a dense turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than many other warm-season grasses). High watering needs for optimal appearance, moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy during dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height ranges from 2.5 to 4 inches. Requires high maintenance including frequent mowing, moderate to high nitrogen fertilization, regular dethatching due to heavy stolon production, and occasional aeration.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, poor wear tolerance compared to Bermuda, moderate salt spray tolerance, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated turfgrass in many subtropical urban environments, provides limited wildlife habitat compared to native prairies, excellent for coastal erosion control due to dense mat-forming stolons.