St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season perennial, C4 metabolism
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or 'Floratam' type; characterized by wide blades and purplish thick stolons
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when temperatures drop below 55°F; highly heat tolerant.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with a vibrant medium-to-dark green color. It establishes a thick sod that effectively crowds out weeds. When unmowed, it produces tall flower spikes with embedded seeds along a thick rachis.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blade width (>4mm), folded vernation, rounded or boat-shaped tips, smooth texture with slight ridges; ligule is a short fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Fibrous and relatively shallow to moderate depth; relies heavily on surface stolons for lateral expansion; moderate thatch builder; fast establishment from plugs or sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; thrives in tropical and subtropical climates
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via aggressive above-ground horizontal stems); forms a dense, carpet-like mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial sun to full sun (requires 4-6 hours), excellent shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses; high water requirements; prefers moist, well-drained fertile soils with pH 6.0-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height of 2.5 to 4.0 inches; weekly mowing; requires 2-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; medium maintenance level; needs periodic vertical mowing to manage thatch.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade and salt tolerance; moderate traffic tolerance; susceptible to Large Patch (fungus) and Chinch bugs; poor drought recovery compared to Bermuda.
Ecological Information
Native to coastal North America; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal areas; low wildlife forage value but creates dense cover; can be invasive in non-native wetland margins.