St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or 'Floratam' (typical coarse, fast-spreading southern turf cultivar)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (goes dormant and may suffer winter kill below freezing temperatures).
About This Grass
Forms a dense, lush carpet with a coarse texture and medium-to-light green color. Unmowed height reaches 6 to 12 inches, maintained typically at 2.5 to 4 inches. Produces flat, upright seed heads (spikes) on a flattened stem.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, generally 4 to 10 mm wide, flat with rounded tips. Folded vernation in the bud. Smooth texture with distinct parallel veins. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles are absent, and the collar is continuous.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes along the thick stolons. Forms a spongy thatch layer quickly. Moderate establishment speed from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of the southeastern United States, tropical regions of the Americas, and West Africa. Widely cultivated in warm, humid coastal regions worldwide.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, forming a dense, coarse turf mat by rapidly spreading above-ground runners (stolons).
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses). High water needs during establishment and active growth; moderate drought tolerance entering dormancy during severe dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using a rotary mower. High maintenance level requiring frequent mowing during peak summer, regular fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Moderate wear tolerance (lower than Bermuda or Zoysia), poor traffic recovery without stolons, good salt tolerance making it ideal for coastal lawns. Susceptible to chinch bugs, take-all root rot, and brown patch.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many tropical and subtropical coastal ecosystems. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on sandy coastal soils. Limited wildlife forage value compared to native prairie grasses.