St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam' or 'Palmetto', known for broader blades and distinct color variations
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, sensitive to prolonged freezing temperatures, excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, dense, low-growing warm-season turf grass that forms a thick carpet-like sod with flat, broad leaf blades and a blue-green to dark green color, growing 2 to 4 inches high when maintained
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (5-10mm), flat shape, rounded tips, blue-green to dark green color, folded vernation in the bud, prominent veins, with a very short fringe-like membranous ligule and absent auricles
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes, forms thick thatch if not managed, fast establishment from sod, moderate drought tolerance and good recovery via stolons
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; widely cultivated in the southern United States and tropical climates
Growth Habit
Aggressively stoloniferous, forming a dense, coarse turf mat via above-ground runners
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than other warm-season grasses), moderate to high watering needs, fair drought tolerance by entering dormancy, prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height 2.5 to 4 inches, high frequency during growing season, fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually, high thatch tendency requiring periodic dethatching, medium-high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Moderate traffic tolerance, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, good salt tolerance making it ideal for coastal areas, poor cold tolerance, excellent erosion control on coastal soils
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated status in many regions, provides limited wildlife habitat compared to native prairie grasses, excellent soil stabilization and erosion control on sandy coastal soils, typically grown as a monoculture