St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season Perennial (C4)
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto' based on blade width and dark green color
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy below 55°F; sensitive to prolonged freezing.
About This Grass
Coarse-textured, low-growing turf with thick, creeping stolons and broad, blunt leaf blades. It maintains a deep green to blue-green color in warm weather and goes dormant/brown in freezing temperatures.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>8mm), flat shape with a distinct 'rounded' or blunt boat-shaped tip; dark green color; folded vernation; short fringe of hairs for a ligule; auricles absent; broad, continuous collar.
Root System
Relatively shallow fibrous root system emanating from nodes along thick stolons; moderate thatch tendency; moderately fast establishment from plugs or sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Africa; native to tropical/subtropical coastlines
Growth Habit
Stolons only (spreading above ground via thick runners); forms a dense, carpet-like sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers Full Sun but has excellent shade tolerance (best among warm-season grasses); needs regular watering (approx 1 inch per week); moderate drought tolerance but wilts quickly without water.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height: 2.5 to 4.0 inches (mow higher in shade); moderate frequency; 3-5 lbs Nitrogen/1000 sq ft yearly; moderate maintenance.
Special Characteristics
High shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high salt tolerance (good for coastal areas); poor wear/traffic tolerance due to stolon structure; susceptible to Large Patch (fungus) and Chinch Bugs.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in many areas; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal soils; generally non-invasive in non-tropical climates; often grown as a monoculture turf.