St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, sensitive to hard frosts and prolonged freezing temperatures which induce winter dormancy
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Panicae
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam', widely known for its larger, coarser blue-green blades and high vigor in subtropical climates
About This Grass
Forms a lush, thick carpet with broad, flat blades. Color ranges from bright apple-green to blue-green depending on the cultivar and fertility. Typically maintained at 2.5 to 3 inches height, but can grow much taller if left unmowed
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture (>4mm wide), flat to folded shape with rounded to slightly pointed tips, folded in the bud (vernation). Features a continuous, light green color, short membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, and absent or rudimentary auricles
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes along thick stolons. Forms a moderate to heavy thatch layer, establishes quickly from sod or plugs, and provides fair drought tolerance with moderate recovery via stolons
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and tropical regions worldwide; well-adapted to the southern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via robust above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse-textured turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses). Needs regular watering, about 1 inch of water per week, and has moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy during severe dry spells
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches using a rotary mower with sharp blades. Requires medium maintenance, fertilization of 2 to 4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year, and periodic dethatching
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, moderate salt tolerance, poor heavy traffic/wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia, excellent ability to crowd out weeds when healthy
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many tropical and subtropical areas. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on coastal sites, offers limited wildlife habitat, and can form dense monocultures