St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8 through 10; poor cold tolerance, goes dormant and turns straw-colored with the first frost.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam or Palmetto (commonly cultivated varieties)
About This Grass
Forms a coarse-textured, dense, blue-green to dark green turf. Unmowed height reaches 6 to 12 inches, maintained at 2.5 to 4 inches. Produces flat, thick flattened seed stalks with a spike-like inflorescence.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat, blunt or rounded tips, rolled in the bud (vernation), smooth texture with a distinct ligule composed of a fringe of hairs and absent auricles.
Root System
Shallow to moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes on the stolons; moderate establishment speed; forms a thick thatch layer.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; widely used in the southern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively above ground via robust stolons to form a dense, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun but has the best shade tolerance among warm-season grasses; requires moderate to high water; moderate drought tolerance entering dormancy during severe dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches; medium to high maintenance; fertilization needed 2 to 4 times per year; susceptible to thatch buildup requiring periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Moderate wear tolerance but slower to recover than Bermuda grass; highly susceptible to chinch bugs and large patch disease; good salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated across the American South; provides good soil stabilization and erosion control in coastal areas; low wildlife forage value compared to native grasses.