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
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, sensitive to heavy frost and prolonged freezing temperatures.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured lawn with a blue-green to bright green color. It has flat blades, grows rapidly during warm weather, and reaches a height of 3 to 4 inches if left unmowed. Produces flattened, spike-like seed heads at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades wider than 4mm, flat shape with rounded or blunt tips. Rolled vernation in the bud, short membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, continuous collar, and absent auricles.
Root System
Shallow to moderate root depth with fibrous roots originating from stolon nodes. Prone to thatch accumulation, establishes moderately fast from sod or plugs, and provides fair wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean; widely cultivated in warm, humid coastal regions of the southern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively by thick above-ground runners (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). Needs frequent watering, moderate to high drought tolerance once established by entering dormancy during severe dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches. Requires regular mowing weekly during peak growing season. High fertilizer and moderate maintenance requirements.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance among warm-season grasses, moderate salt tolerance, poor traffic/wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated warm-season turfgrass in coastal regions, provides basic soil stabilization and erosion control, minimal wildlife value compared to native prairie grasses.