St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common (wild-type appearance, likely 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto' given leaf width)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11. Poor cold tolerance; enters dormant brown state below 55°F and can suffer winter kill in Zone 7.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turf grass with a thick, spongy feel. It features blunt, rounded leaf tips and aggressive surface stolons. Its color is typically a vibrant medium-to-dark green.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), folded vernation, distinctively blunt/rounded boat-shaped tips. Leaves are opposite on stolons, with a short, fringed hairy ligule and no auricles.
Root System
Relatively shallow fibrous root system supported by thick, woody stolons. High thatch-forming tendency but provides moderate wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Africa; well-adapted to subtropical and tropical climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreading above ground via thick runners); forms a dense, carpet-like mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers Full Sun but has the highest shade tolerance of warm-season grasses (needs 4-6 hours). High water needs; poor drought tolerance compared to Bermuda.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended height 2.5-4.0 inches. Medium maintenance level requires regular irrigation and nitrogen fertilization (2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year).
Special Characteristics
Excellent salt tolerance for coastal areas, high shade tolerance, thick growth crowds out most weeds, but susceptible to Chinch bugs and Gray Leaf Spot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in US; excellent for coastal soil stabilization. Often mixed with Clover in low-input lawns but typically grown as a monostand.