St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common St. Augustine (likely Florida Common or Raleigh due to blade width)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11. Poor cold tolerance; turns brown and enters dormancy quickly below 55°F (13°C).
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with a vibrant medium-to-dark green color. It forms a thick sod that crowds out most weeds. Seed heads are inconspicuous spikes with seeds embedded in one side of a flattened rachis.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (8-10mm); flat shape with a distinctively rounded, blunt tip. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent. Visible collar is continuous and broad.
Root System
Fibrous and relatively shallow compared to Bermuda, but supported by thick stolons that root at nodes. Prone to thatch buildup if over-fertilized; moderate establishment speed from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; adapted to tropical and subtropical climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick, creeping above-ground runners); forms a dense, carpet-like mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial Sun to Full Sun; one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses (needs 4-5 hours min). High water requirement; moderate drought tolerance but wilts quickly without supplemental irrigation.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4.0 inches; weekly mowing. Requires 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually. Medium to High maintenance level due to water and pest needs.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high salt tolerance (good for coastal areas); poor wear tolerance (recovers slowly from heavy traffic); susceptible to Chinch Bugs and Large Patch disease.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in the US; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal areas; low wildlife value in turf form; can be invasive in sensitive wetland borders but generally remains contained in lawns.