St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Panicae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam' (or similar common coarse warm-season cultivar known for its wider blades and purple-tinted stolons)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, sensitive to severe cold and freezing temperatures below 20F (-6C).
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured, blue-green to bright green turf. Unmowed height can reach 6 to 12 inches, but typically maintained at 2.5 to 4 inches. Produces flat, pill-like seed spikes (racemes) on flattened stems.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse, flat, 4 to 10 mm wide, with blunt, rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. The collar region is continuous and narrow.
Root System
Moderate depth root system with extensive above-ground stolon network. Forms a moderate to heavy thatch layer. Fast establishment from sod, moderate from plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and tropical regions worldwide. Cultivated extensively in the southern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via thick, flat above-ground stolons to form a dense, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most warm-season grasses). High water needs during active growth, moderate drought tolerance with dormancy in extreme dryness.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using a sharp rotary mower. Medium-high maintenance with high fertilization requirements during the growing season (2-5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually).
Special Characteristics
Good salt tolerance (suitable for coastal areas), moderate wear tolerance but slow to recover from severe damage compared to Bermuda, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized widely in warm coastal zones. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on coastal soils. Low wildlife foraging value for mammals, but provides cover for small invertebrates.