St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common St. Augustine (likely Florida Common based on growth pattern)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown/tan when temperatures drop below 55°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turfgrass with a creeping habit. It features thick, flattened stolons that root at nodes. In the image, the grass shows significant dormancy/thatch and a medium to light green color with wide, blunt-edged blades.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (8-10mm); flat shape with a distinct boat-shaped or rounded tip; light to medium green color; folded vernation; fringe of hairs for a ligule; absent auricles; short and broad collar.
Root System
Spreads via aggressive stolons with a fibrous root system that can reach moderate depths. High thatch-forming tendency; slow to moderate establishment speed from plugs or sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Western Africa. Well-adapted to tropical and subtropical climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick above-ground runners), forming a dense, coarse mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial sun to full sun; one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses. Requires moderate to high watering; poor drought tolerance compared to Bermuda.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height: 2.5 to 4.0 inches. Weekly mowing frequency during peak season. Requires 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually. Medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance; moderate salt tolerance; poor traffic/wear tolerance; susceptible to Large Patch (Rhizoctonia) and Chinch bugs.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in US; provides soil stabilization for coastal areas; low wildlife value in managed lawns; non-invasive in non-tropical inland environments.