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. Low cold tolerance, goes dormant and loses color with frost or freezing temperatures. Not well-suited for the cold northern transition zones.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam' (common coarse-textured, high-light cultivar)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured, apple-green to blue-green turf with broad blades. Unmowed height can reach 6 to 12 inches, while maintained lawn height is typically 2.5 to 4 inches. Produces flat, spike-like seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades wider than 4mm, flat shape, blunt or rounded tips, bright to dark green color, folded vernation in the bud, prominent parallel veins, continuous collar, short membranous ligule, and absent auricles.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system combined with vigorous above-ground stolons. Moderate to high thatch-forming tendency, fast establishment from sod or plugs, and forms a dense, spongy sod layer.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions near the Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean, and coastal areas worldwide; thrives in warm, humid coastal climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and aggressive spreader via above-ground runners (stolons), forming a thick, coarse, dense turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than many warm-season grasses but needs at least 4-6 hours of sun). High water requirement during active growth, moderate drought tolerance (enters dormancy under severe drought), prefers well-drained sandy or loam soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
High mowing height of 2.5 to 4 inches using sharp rotary mowers. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season. High fertilization needs (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually). High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Moderate wear and traffic tolerance (slower to recover than Bermuda), poor cold tolerance, excellent salt spray tolerance, good shade tolerance relative to other warm-season grasses, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated across coastal regions globally, provides good soil erosion control along coastal slopes and sandy soils, offers limited wildlife food value, acts as a primary ground cover in southern residential and commercial landscapes.