St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto' based on blade width and growth density
Hardiness Zones
USDA 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 grass with a vibrant blue-green to dark green color. It forms a dense sod that crowds out most weeds and has a prostrate growth habit with visible stolons.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat, with a distinctly rounded or 'boat-shaped' tip; vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent.
Root System
Fibrous and relatively shallow to moderate depth; rely heavily on a thick network of stolons; low thatch tendency but can build up if over-fertilized; slow to moderate establishment from plugs or sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the coastal fringes of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; well-adapted to USDA zones 8-11
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via aggressive above-ground runners), forming a thick, dense mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to moderate shade (one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses); needs 4-6 hours of sun; high water requirement; moderate drought tolerance but wilts quickly without moisture.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height of 3.0-4.0 inches; weekly frequency; fertilization of 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high salt tolerance (ideal for coastal areas); poor wear tolerance due to succulent stolons; susceptible to Chinch bugs and Gray Leaf Spot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in most of the US South; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal soils; low wildlife value but used for ground cover in urban ecosystems; non-invasive in non-tropical climates.