St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Has low cold tolerance, entering dormancy and turning brown when temperatures drop consistently below 50°F. Intolerant of hard freezes.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam', a popular coarse-textured cultivar known for its bright blue-green color and good disease resistance.
About This Grass
Forms a thick, coarse-textured, blue-green to dark green turf mat. When unmowed, it can reach heights of 6 to 12 inches. It features distinctive flat, compressed stolons and produces a flattened, spike-like seed head at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse, flat, and wide (typically 4-10 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 broad.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes. Establishes relatively quickly from sod or plugs. Forms a thick layer of thatch over time. Moderate drought tolerance, relying heavily on its stolons for recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and Mediterranean. Widely cultivated throughout the southern United States and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via robust above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade; notably more shade-tolerant than most other warm-season grasses. Needs regular watering to maintain color and vigor, with moderate to low drought tolerance compared to Bermuda grass. Prefers moist, well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using a rotary mower with sharp blades to prevent tearing. Medium to high maintenance level, requiring regular fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually) and occasional dethatching due to dense stolon growth.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance compared to other warm-season turfgrasses. Moderate wear tolerance and traffic recovery via stolons. Susceptible to chinch bugs, take-all root rot, and brown patch. Poor salt tolerance compared to seashore paspalum, but moderate tolerance compared to northern grasses.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many tropical and subtropical regions. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on coastal sites. Valued for its dense weed-crowding ability when healthy. Not typically used in native prairie restoration.