St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto' (indicated by broad blade width and common residential use)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when temperatures drop below 55°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with a dense, mat-forming habit. It exhibits a vibrant medium to dark green color and produces a thick turf that crowds out most weeds. Seed heads are inconspicuous spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), folded vernation, rounded or boat-shaped tips, prominent midrib, and no auricles. Ligule is a short fringe of hairs.
Root System
Fibrous and moderately deep, primarily extending from nodes along the thick stolons. High thatch-forming tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and West Africa; thrives in tropical and subtropical climates
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick, creeping above-ground runners)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial sun to full sun (one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses); high water needs; moderate drought tolerance but requires irrigation during dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Recommended height 3.5 to 4 inches; high maintenance; requires 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; requires regular dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, high salt tolerance (ideal for coastal areas), low wear tolerance compared to Bermuda.
Ecological Information
Native to tropical coastal areas; provides stabilization for sandy soils; prone to Chinch bugs and Gray Leaf Spot disease; not considered invasive in its primary regions of use.