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, a popular coarse-textured cultivar known for its bright blue-green color and susceptibility to chinch bugs
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10; poor cold tolerance and susceptible to frost damage; enters winter dormancy in cooler portions of its range.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing warm-season turfgrass forming a thick carpet. Bright to blue-green in color. Height ranges from 2 to 3 inches when maintained. Notable features visible include flattened stems and distinct spike-like inflorescences.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse, greater than 4mm wide, flat, with rounded or blunt tips. Rolled in the bud (vernation). Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. Smooth texture with prominent midrib.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes on the stolons. Establishes relatively quickly from sod, forms heavy thatch over time, and has moderate drought tolerance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, the Caribbean, and coastal tropical regions worldwide; well-adapted to the southern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via 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); needs regular watering (1 inch per week); moderate drought tolerance by going into dormancy during severe dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height from 2.5 to 4 inches using a rotary mower; medium to high maintenance; requires 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; regular dethatching and aerating needed due to heavy thatch production.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses; moderate to low wear tolerance; poor recovery from heavy traffic compared to Bermuda or Zoysia; susceptible to chinch bugs, take-all root rot, and brown patch.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in coastal and subtropical areas; provides limited wildlife value mostly as ground cover; excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control in coastal sandy soils.