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
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Low cold tolerance, goes dormant and turns brown with frost.
About This Grass
Forms a thick, carpet-like turf with coarse-textured, flat blades. Color ranges from light to blue-green depending on the cultivar. Grows low to the ground and spreads rapidly via thick runners.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse texture, blades are wider than 4mm with blunt or rounded tips, folded in the bud (vernation), smooth margins, and a membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes. Establishes quickly from sod, forms moderate thatch, and provides good sod density but lower traffic tolerance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of the Americas, and West Africa. Thrives in tropical and subtropical climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via above-ground stolons to form a coarse, dense turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade, exhibits better shade tolerance than most warm-season grasses. Needs frequent watering and moderate to high moisture for best appearance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches high. High maintenance level requiring regular fertilization, watering, and occasional dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Good salt tolerance making it popular for coastal regions, moderate shade tolerance, poor heavy traffic tolerance, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/naturalized in many tropical regions worldwide. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control in coastal sandy soils.