St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10. Low cold tolerance, going dormant and turning brown with the first heavy frost. Poor suitability for transition zones.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, dense turfgrass with broad blades and blunt tips. It forms a lush, carpet-like turf with an apple-green to blue-green color. Left unmowed, it can grow up to 6-12 inches tall.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, typically greater than 4mm in width (often 8-10mm), flat shape, blunt or rounded tips, folded in the bud (vernation), light green to blue-green color, distinct veins, with a short membranous ligule and absent auricles.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes. Forms a thick layer of thatch quickly if over-fertilized. Moderate establishment speed from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and tropical regions worldwide. Best adapted to warm, humid coastal areas.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via thick, flat above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most warm-season grasses, needing at least 4 hours of direct sun). High water needs during establishment, moderate to high ongoing needs. Fair drought tolerance by entering dormancy.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 3.5 inches. High maintenance level requiring regular mowing, frequent watering, and moderate to high fertilization (2-5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually). Regular dethatching may be needed.
Special Characteristics
Moderate to low traffic/wear tolerance due to its succulent stolons. Good shade and salt tolerance. Susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms, and take-all root rot. Excellent for coastal home lawns.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated widely in tropical and subtropical regions. Provides soil stabilization and erosion control in coastal sandy soils. Low invasive tendency outside of cultivated lawns, but can spread into flower beds.