St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto' based on blade width and typical residential usage
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy below 55°F; prone to winter kill in northern transition zones.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass that forms a thick sod. It is characterized by its wide blades and distinctively thick stolons. Color is typically a deep blue-green, though it can turn tan during winter dormancy.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is coarse (8-10mm); shape is flat; tip is rounded or boat-shaped; color is medium to dark green; vernation is folded; ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent; collar is constricted.
Root System
Mainly fibrous roots arising from nodes along the stolons; moderate depth; high thatch-forming tendency; slow to moderate establishment from plugs or sod; moderate wear recovery due to stoloniferous spread.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, West Indies, and Western Africa; adapted to tropical and subtropical coastal climates
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick, creeping above-ground runners), forming a dense, coarse mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial sun to full sun (4-6 hours minimum); best shade tolerance among warm-season grasses; high water needs; moderate drought tolerance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.0 to 8.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4.0 inches; weekly frequency; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year; moderate dethatching needs; high maintenance level requirement for aesthetic turf.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high salt tolerance (ideal for coastal areas); poor traffic tolerance compared to Bermuda; susceptible to Large Patch (Rhizoctonia) and Chinch Bugs.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in US; provides soil stabilization in coastal sandy areas; low food value for wildlife but provides cover; can be invasive in sensitive wetland margins; usually grown as a monostand.