St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season perennial, C4 metabolism
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or Floratam-type (likely a robust standard cultivar)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11. Excellent heat tolerance but poor cold tolerance; will turn brown and go dormant after the first hard frost. Not suitable for heavy transition zones further north.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turfgrass that forms a thick, carpet-like sod. It is medium to dark green and remains relatively low-profile if regular mowing occurs. Seed heads are inconspicuous, appearing as one-sided spikes (racemes) embedded in a flattened, fleshy stalk.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), folded in the bud (vernation). Blades are flat with a distinctively rounded or 'boat-shaped' tip. Color varies from bright green to deep blue-green. Ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent; the collar is broad and continuous.
Root System
Fibrous and moderately deep, originating from stolon nodes. It forms significant thatch over time. Establishment is moderate to fast via sod or plugs, but it cannot be established by seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of West Africa; well-adapted to tropical and subtropical climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous; spreads via thick, creeping prostrate stems (stolons) that root at the nodes. Does not possess rhizomes.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial sun to full sun; exhibits the best shade tolerance among warm-season grasses. Requires moderate to high watering; sensitive to drought, though it can recover from dormancy if water is reintroduced.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height is 2.5 to 4.0 inches. Mowing frequency is weekly during the growing season. Medium to high maintenance requiring 3-5 lbs of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually. Requires periodic dethatching and aeration.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high salt tolerance (good for coastal areas). Moderate wear tolerance but slow to recover from heavy traffic compared to Bermuda. Susceptible to Large Patch (fungus) and Chinch bugs.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many coastal areas. Provides soil stabilization and filtration in sandy coastal soils. Not typically invasive except in sensitive wetland margins. Best grown as a monostand rather than in mixes.