St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Sensitive to hard frosts and prolonged cold, entering winter dormancy in cooler parts of its range.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae
Variety / Cultivar
Floratam
About This Grass
Forms a thick, coarse, carpet-like turf with broad, flat blades and blunt tips. Light to medium bright green color. Grows quite rapidly in warm weather, creating a dense sod that crowds out most weeds.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width greater than 4mm, flat shape, blunt or rounded tip, bright green to light green color, folded vernation in the bud, prominent ligule consisting of a fringe of hairs.
Root System
Moderate depth fibrous root system with extensive aggressive stolons. Moderate to high thatch-forming tendency, medium-fast establishment from plugs or sod, poor wear recovery compared to bermuda.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas, and tropical regions worldwide. Well-adapted to the southern United States and tropical climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively by above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Performs best in full sun but has the best shade tolerance among warm-season turfgrasses. Requires regular watering and moderate drought tolerance, going dormant or wilting under severe water stress.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 2.5 to 4 inches. Requires regular mowing during growing season, medium to high fertilization, occasional dethatching, and medium maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses, moderate salt tolerance, poor heavy traffic tolerance, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated across tropical and subtropical regions. Provides ground cover and soil stabilization in coastal environments, low wildlife value for grazing compared to native prairie grasses.