St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10, with high heat tolerance and moderate cold tolerance. Vulnerable to heavy frost and freezes which cause winter dormancy and discoloration.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
'Palmetto' St. Augustine (known for excellent shade tolerance and semi-dwarf growth habit)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured, blue-green to dark green turf mat. When left unmowed, it can grow up to 6 to 12 inches high, but it is typically maintained at a height of 2.5 to 4 inches. Produces flattened, spike-like seed heads on terminal stems.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades wider than 4mm (typically 5-10mm wide), flat, with rounded to blunt tips. Rolled in the bud (vernation). Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. Collar is broad and continuous.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system spreading from robust stolons. Tends to produce moderate thatch. Establishes rapidly from sod and moderately from plugs. Forms a thick, spongy sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of the southeastern United States, tropical America, and West Africa. Widely cultivated in warm, humid coastal regions worldwide.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, producing thick, robust above-ground runners that root at the nodes, forming a dense, coarse-textured turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most warm-season turfgrasses, needing at least 4 hours of direct sun). High water needs for optimal appearance, with moderate to good drought tolerance by entering dormancy during extended dry spells. Prefers moist, well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches high every 7-10 days during the growing season. High fertilizer requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year in active seasons). Moderate maintenance level with regular irrigation and pest monitoring.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance among warm-season grasses, moderate salt tolerance (ideal for coastal properties), poor wear and heavy traffic tolerance, slow recovery from severe damage, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated across tropical and subtropical landscapes worldwide. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control in coastal areas. Limited wildlife value compared to native prairie grasses, often used as a monoculture lawn grass.