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' (most common wide-bladed cultivar with good drought and insect resistance)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Low cold tolerance (frost causes dormancy/damage). Performs exceptionally well in tropical and subtropical climates.
About This Grass
Forms a lush, dense, blue-green to dark green turf with a coarse texture. Typically maintained at 2.5 to 4 inches. Produces flattened, branching seed heads on spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, width typically >5mm, flat shape with rounded, blunt tips. Folded vernation in the bud, continuous collar, and a short, membranous ligule fringed with hairs. No auricles.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous roots originating from stolon nodes. Forms a thick thatch layer if not managed properly. Fast establishment from sod, moderate from plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and tropical regions worldwide. Well-adapted to warm, humid coastal regions.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via thick surface runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse-textured turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most warm-season grasses, needing at least 4 hours of direct sun). High water needs during active growth, moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy. Thrives in moist, well-draining soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches using a sharp rotary mower. High maintenance level. Requires 2 to 4 lbs of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft annually. Regular dethatching and spring aeration are beneficial.
Special Characteristics
Moderate traffic tolerance (recovers slower than Bermuda), poor salt spray tolerance compared to seashore paspalum but moderate soil salinity tolerance, good shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, prone to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated across southern coastal regions. Provides ground cover and soil stabilization against erosion. Low wildlife food value but offers micro-habitat for insects and small ground-dwelling creatures.