St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto' based on blade width and growth pattern
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 55°F; thrives in high heat and humidity.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass that forms a thick sod via aggressive stolons. It is deep green to blue-green in color and retains color well into autumn in warm climates. Seed heads are inconspicuous spikes with seeds embedded in a thickened rachis.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (8-10mm); flat shape with a distinct rounded (boat-shaped) or blunt tip; folded vernation; collar is continuous and narrow; ligule is a short fringe of hairs; auricles are absent.
Root System
Fibrous and moderately deep; primarily spreads through thick, compressed stolons; slow to moderate establishment from plugs or sod; moderate thatch-forming tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, West Indies, and Western Africa; well-adapted to tropical and subtropical coastal areas
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick, creeping above-ground runners); forms a dense, coarse mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses); requires frequent watering; moderate drought tolerance but wilts quickly without moisture; prefers well-drained fertile soils with pH 6.0-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4.0 inches; mowing frequency every 7-10 days; fertilization 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; medium maintenance level; sensitive to certain herbicides.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses; high salt tolerance (ideal for coastal lawns); moderate wear tolerance but slow recovery; susceptible to Chinch bugs and Gray Leaf Spot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in many regions; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal areas; low wildlife food value but provides cover for small insects and reptiles; can be invasive in non-managed tropical wetlands.