St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
'Palmetto' or 'Floratam', known for specific shade tolerances and distinct blue-green color variations
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Exhibits poor cold tolerance, going dormant and losing color with the first frost, and can suffer winter kill in colder climates.
About This Grass
Forms a lush, carpet-like turf with coarse, flat blades and a medium-light green to blue-green color. Height ranges from 2 to 3 inches when maintained; can grow significantly taller if unmowed. Produces flattened seed spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades wider than 4mm, flat shape with blunt or rounded tips, rolled in the bud (vernation), smooth texture with prominent midveins. Features a short membranous ligule fringed with hairs, and lacks auricles.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system combined with vigorous above-ground stolons. Establishes rapidly from sod, forms a thick thatch layer, and provides good sod density for erosion control.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Western Africa; widely cultivated in the Southern United States
Growth Habit
Aggressively stoloniferous, spreading via thick above-ground runners that form a dense, coarse-textured turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to moderate shade (some cultivars are notably shade tolerant). Needs regular moisture and irrigation to thrive; moderate drought tolerance by going into dormancy during severe dry spells. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 3.5 inches using a rotary mower. Requires medium to high maintenance, including regular fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), frequent watering, and periodic dethatching due to rapid stolon growth.
Special Characteristics
Fair wear and traffic tolerance (recovers slower than Bermuda), susceptible to chinch bugs and large patch disease, moderate salt tolerance, excellent shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many tropical and subtropical areas. Provides good erosion control on coastal sandy soils and forms dense monocultures that naturally crowd out many common weeds.