St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season perennial, C4 metabolic pathway
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common St. Augustine / Raleigh (likely, given visual texture and common use)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; will go dormant and turn brown after the first hard frost.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass that forms a thick sod. It maintains a medium-to-dark green color during the growing season and turns brown during winter dormancy. The plant is identifiable by its creeping habit and thick, fleshy stems.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse, wide blades (up to 8-10mm); folded vernation in the bud; leaf tips are distinctly rounded or blunt; ligule is a short fringe of hairs; auricles are absent; color is generally a bright, vibrant green.
Root System
Fibrous and relatively shallow compared to Bermuda, but supported by extensive thick stolons. It establishes via sod, plugs, or sprigs (not seed). Forms high thatch over time.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Coastal regions of Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean; widely used in the Southern US Gulf Coast and Texas
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick, above-ground runners); forms a dense, carpet-like mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial shade to full sun (one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses); needs at least 4-5 hours of sun; moderate to high water needs; moderate drought tolerance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4.0 inches; weekly mowing recommended; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft/year; high maintenance due to water and pest needs.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; good salt tolerance for coastal areas; poor wear tolerance (recovers slowly from heavy traffic); susceptible to Chinch Bugs and Large Patch disease.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal areas; can be invasive in non-native wetland margins; often blended with other warm-season grasses in transition zones.