St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common Floratam or Palmetto (inferred from medium-coarse blade width and deep green color)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10. High heat tolerance; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy below 55°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turfgrass that forms a thick sod. It maintains a deep green color during the growing season and turns brown/dormant after the first hard frost. Unmowed, it can reach 6-12 inches; maintained, it looks lush and dense. Seed heads are inconspicuous, finger-like spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (8-10mm), flat shape with a distinct folded vernation. Tips are broadly rounded or boat-shaped. Color is medium to dark green. The ligule is a short fringe of hairs; auricles are absent; the collar is narrowed and continuous.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes. Low to medium thatch tendency; slow to moderate establishment speed from sod or plugs; poor wear recovery compared to Bermuda.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; well-adapted to humid subtropical and tropical climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick, creeping above-ground runners/stolons); forms a dense, carpet-like mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Shade (highly shade tolerant for a warm-season grass); needs at least 4-6 hours of sun. Requires moderate to high watering; low drought tolerance (wilts quickly without water). Prefers well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils (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 N per 1000 sq ft per year. Low to medium maintenance level, but sensitive to over-fertilization and certain herbicides.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance among warm-season grasses; high salt tolerance (good for coastal areas); poor traffic/wear tolerance; susceptible to Chinch Bugs and Large Patch (fungus).
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in the US. Provides soil stabilization in coastal sandy areas. Not considered highly invasive in managed landscapes but can crowd out native flora in coastal dunes. Often grown as a monoculture turf.