St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam (likely, based on the thick stolons and coarse texture visible)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy (turns brown) when temperatures drop below 55°F; high heat tolerance.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with a vibrant deep green to blue-green color. It forms a thick, spongy sod and produces short, thick flowering spikes on flattened stems.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), flat blades with a rounded or boat-shaped tip. Vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a short fringe of hairs; auricles are absent. Visible prominent mid-veins.
Root System
Moderate to deep fibrous root system; highly stoloniferous. It has a high thatch-forming tendency and slow-to-moderate establishment from plugs or sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to West Indies, Africa, and the Gulf Coast of Mexico; well-adapted to tropical and subtropical climates
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick, above-ground runners), forming a dense, carpet-like mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; possesses the best shade tolerance among warm-season grasses. Needs regular watering (1 inch per week) and has moderate drought tolerance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4.0 inches; frequency every 7-10 days; fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; high maintenance level requirement.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high salt tolerance (good for coastal areas); poor wear tolerance due to succulent stolons; susceptible to Chinch Bugs and Large Patch disease.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in many regions; excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control on sandy soils; provides limited wildlife cover; can be invasive in sensitive wetland ecosystems.