St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Palmetto or Floratam (Commonly cultivated cultivars with wide blades and good shade or sun performance)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, sensitive to heavy frost and freezing temperatures, goes into winter dormancy in northern range.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, aggressive warm-season turfgrass forming a dense sod. It features broad flat blades, bright blue-green to dark green color in summer, and goes dormant (turning brown or tan) in cooler winter weather. Mows cleanly when sharp blades are used.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture with blade widths typically 4-10mm, flat shape, rounded or blunt tips, bright to blue-green color, folded vernation in the bud, short membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, and continuous collar.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system spreading from thick, flat stolons. Tends to form moderate thatch, establishes quickly from sod, and has good wear recovery via above-ground runners.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical coastal regions of the Americas and West Africa; widely cultivated in the southern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreading aggressively above ground via thick stolons), forming a coarse, dense turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (most shade-tolerant warm-season grass); moderate to high water needs; moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy; prefers moist, fertile soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches; mow weekly during active growth; fertilization rate of 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; moderate to high maintenance level depending on pest management.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses; moderate to low traffic tolerance; susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms, and take-all root rot; moderate salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced and widely naturalized in coastal warm regions; provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on coastal sites; forms monotypic stands due to aggressive stoloniferous growth.