St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
'Palmetto' St. Augustine Grass
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (susceptible to frost damage and winter dormancy discoloration).
About This Grass
St. Augustine grass features a lush, coarse-textured, blue-green to dark green turf. When unmanaged, it can grow up to 6 to 12 inches tall, but it is typically maintained much lower. It forms a dense, spongy carpet that crowds out most weeds when healthy.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse, flat, wider than 4mm, with rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. The collar region is continuous.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes along the thick stolons. Establishes relatively quickly from sod, forms a dense sod, and exhibits moderate thatch-forming tendencies.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the Gulf Coast of the United States, Caribbean, and parts of Africa; well-adapted to humid southern climates.
Growth Habit
Aggressively stoloniferous, forming a thick, coarse turf mat by spreading via above-ground runners (stolons).
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses). High water needs, prefers moist, well-draining soils but has moderate drought tolerance by going dormant during severe dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches. Requires regular mowing during growing season, medium-high fertilization (2 to 5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year), periodic dethatching, and moderate maintenance overall.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses, moderate salt tolerance, poor heavy traffic/wear tolerance, prone to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, excellent erosion control in coastal areas.
Ecological Information
Introduced to many regions for turf use; provides low wildlife habitat value compared to native prairies; helps stabilize sandy coastal soils and filter runoff; can become invasive in moist tropical environments if left unmanaged.