St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season perennial, C4-photosynthetic pathway
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto' (Common cultivars showing typical wide blades and purple-tinged stolons)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when temperatures consistently drop below 50°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turf grass with a medium-to-dark green color. It forms a thick carpet that crowds out weeds. Unmowed, it produces flower spikes on short stalks; when maintained, it creates a lush, uniform surface.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm); blades are flat and folded in the bud (folded vernation). Tips are distinctly rounded or boat-shaped. Color is typically deep green. Ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent.
Root System
Strongly stoloniferous with a shallow-to-moderate fibrous root system; high thatch-forming tendency due to stolon accumulation; slow to moderate establishment from plugs or sod (rarely grown from seed).
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, West Indies, and Western Africa; highly adapted to humid subtropical coastal areas
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous; spreads aggressively via thick above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse-textured mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses); needs at least 4-5 hours of sun; high water requirement; moderate drought tolerance but wilts quickly without moisture.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4.0 inches; weekly mowing frequency; requires 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance level due to water and pest needs.
Special Characteristics
Excellent salt tolerance (suitable for coastal lawns); high shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; poor wear tolerance (stolons are easily crushed); susceptible to Chinch Bugs and Large Patch disease.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in many regions; provides excellent soil stabilization in sandy coastal soils; low wildlife food value but provides cover for small invertebrates.