St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Panicoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or Raleigh (likely based on leaf width and medium-green color)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormant straw-colored state below 55°F (12°C).
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass forming a thick, spongy mat. It is characterized by thick, compressed stolons and a deep green to blue-green color. Seed heads are spike-like with seeds embedded in a flattened rachis.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse (8-10mm width), flat blades with a distinct rounded/obtuse tip. Vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent. The collar is continuous and somewhat constricted.
Root System
Fibrous and moderately deep, primarily extending from nodes on the stolons. Slow to moderate establishment speed; high thatch-forming tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; well-adapted to subtropical coastal areas
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick, creeping above-ground runners)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial Shade to Full Sun (one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses). High water requirement; moderate drought tolerance but wilt-prone without irrigation.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5 to 4.0 inches. Medium maintenance; needs 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually and periodic vertical mowing to manage thatch.
Special Characteristics
Excellent salt tolerance (ideal for coastal lawns), high shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, and poor wear tolerance due to succulent stolons.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in US; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal areas; low wildlife food value but provides cover for small invertebrates.