St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Species type (visible stolons suggest 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto' characteristics)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy (turns brown) when soil temperatures drop below 55°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass that forms a dense, spongy mat. It features thick, woody stolons (runners) and vibrant green to blue-green foliage.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), folded vernation, rounded or boat-shaped tips, short and wide blades with a conspicuous collar and a fringe of hairs for a ligule.
Root System
Fibrous and relatively shallow, primarily originating from stolon nodes; slow to establish from seed, usually established via sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico, West Indies, and West Africa coastlines
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick, creeping above-ground runners)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial sun to full sun (notably shade tolerant for a warm-season grass), high water requirements, prefers well-drained loamy or sandy soils with pH 6.0-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
High maintenance; mowed at 2.5–4.0 inches every 7-10 days; requires 2-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; high thatch accumulation.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance among warm-season grasses; high salt tolerance; poor wear/traffic tolerance due to fleshy stolons; susceptible to Chinch bugs and Gray Leaf Spot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in many coastal regions; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal areas; not considered invasive but spreads aggressively in humid, warm climates.