St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or 'Floratam' (highly likely based on coarse texture and blade width)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 55°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with a deep green to blue-green color. It produces thick, succulent stolons that root at the nodes to form a dense turf. Seed heads are spike-like racemes with seeds embedded in a thickened rachis.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>8mm), flat shape with a distinct boat-shaped or rounded tip. Vernation is folded. Color is typically medium to dark green. Ligule is a fringe of hairs; auricles are absent. The collar is continuous and somewhat constricted.
Root System
Abundant fibrous roots originating from stolon nodes; moderate depth; slow to established initially but forms a dense sod; moderate thatch tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; adapted to subtropical/tropical climates
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreading via thick 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 at least 4-6 hours of sun; high water needs; moderate drought tolerance but wilts quickly without moisture; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.0-8.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 2.5 to 4.0 inches; frequency of 7-10 days; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; high maintenance level; requires vertical mowing for thatch control.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses; high salt tolerance (good for coastal areas); moderate wear tolerance but slow to recover; susceptible to Chinch Bugs and Large Patch (Rhizoctonia).
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in US; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal areas; low wildlife food value but provides cover; can be invasive in sensitive wetland margins; often used as a mono-stand rather than in mixes.