St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common St. Augustine / Floratam (Likely based on blade width and texture)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when temperatures consistently drop below 55°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turfgrass with a vibrant medium-to-dark green color. It forms a thick, spongy sod and features short, blunt seed heads on thick stalks when left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm width), flat or slightly folded, with distinct rounded or 'boat-shaped' tips. Vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a short fringe of hairs; auricles are absent.
Root System
Fibrous and relatively shallow but forms a very dense sod through its stolon mat; moderate establishment speed; produces significant thatch; moderate drought recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, West Indies, and Western Africa; thrives in tropical and subtropical coastal climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous; spreads aggressively via thick, creeping above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial Sun to Full Sun (one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses); needs 4-6 hours of sun; high water requirement; prefers well-drained, sandy or loamy soils with pH 5.0-8.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; requires 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance due to water and pest needs; requires periodic vertical mowing (dethatching).
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high salt tolerance (good for coastal areas); poor wear/traffic tolerance; susceptible to Chinch Bugs and Gray Leaf Spot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in the US; provides soil stabilization for coastal dunes; can be invasive in sensitive wetland margins; often grown as a monoculture but can coexist with Centipede grass.