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' (most common widespread cultivar known for large coarse blades and purple-tinted stolons)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, sensitive to hard freezes and prolonged frost which induces winter dormancy and potential cold damage.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing warm-season turfgrass forming a dense, carpet-like sod. It features vibrant blue-green to dark green blades, grows rapidly during warm months, and produces flattened seed spikes (racemes) at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with wide blades (typically 4 to 10 mm wide), flat shape with blunt or rounded tips, folded vernation in the bud, smooth texture, prominent midvein, membranous fringe-like ligule, and absent auricles.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from thick stolon nodes; establishes quickly from sod, forms moderate thatch, and provides good sod strength but moderate drought tolerance compared to deep-rooted grasses.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, the Caribbean, and coastal areas worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via thick above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to moderate shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses); needs regular watering (1 inch per week) and has moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy during severe dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 3.5 inches high using sharp rotary blades; medium to high maintenance requiring regular fertilization, periodic dethatching, and supplemental irrigation during dry periods.
Special Characteristics
Moderate traffic and wear tolerance, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, excellent salt tolerance (good for coastal areas), fair shade tolerance, and aggressive growth that crowds out most weeds.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in warm coastal regions globally; provides good soil stabilization and erosion control in sandy coastal soils, with moderate wildlife and pollinator habitat value in managed landscapes.