St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Susceptible to freeze damage and goes dormant or suffers winter kill in colder regions.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, coarse-textured lawn with vibrant medium-to-dark green color. It has a creeping growth habit, spreading rapidly via stolons. When unmowed, it can grow up to 6 to 12 inches tall, but is typically maintained low. Produces flat, spike-like seed heads on terminal stalks.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse, flat, and wide (greater than 4mm), with rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Color ranges from light to dark green. The ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous roots combined with extensive stolon growth. It establishes quickly from sod, tends to form moderate thatch, and provides good soil stabilization.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions around the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Western Africa; widely cultivated in the southern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively by flat, above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses). High water needs during active growth periods; moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy during dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 3.5 inches high. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season. High fertilizer requirements (4 to 6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year). Medium-High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance among warm-season grasses, moderate salt tolerance, poor traffic/wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia, and susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated in warm-climate landscapes. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control, though it can outcompete weeds when healthy and dense.