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' or common St. Augustine, characterized by coarse texture and blue-green color
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, sensitive to severe cold and freezes
About This Grass
Coarse-textured, low-growing warm-season turfgrass forming a dense sod with flat, broad blades and blunt tips; bright green to blue-green in color, turning dormant and brown with the first heavy frost
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat with rounded, boat-shaped tips, smooth texture, rolled in the bud (vernation), with a membranous ligule and absent auricles
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes along thick stolons, moderate to fast establishment, moderate thatch-forming tendency
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean, widely cultivated in the southern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly above ground via thick stolons to form a dense turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to moderate shade (most shade-tolerant warm-season grass), high watering needs for optimal appearance, moderate drought tolerance with dormancy during extended dry spells
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height 2.5 to 4 inches, high maintenance level, requires regular fertilization and frequent mowing during the growing season
Special Characteristics
Poor wear and traffic tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia, highly susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, excellent salt tolerance
Ecological Information
Introduced to many regions for coastal landscaping, provides good erosion control in sandy soils, limited wildlife value compared to native grasses