St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass and Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10, sensitive to heavy frost and prolonged freezing temperatures
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam' or common St. Augustine, characterized by coarser texture and blue-green color
About This Grass
Coarse-textured, low-growing, mat-forming warm-season grass with flat, broad blades, bright to blue-green color, and upright seed spikes at maturity
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat shape, rounded to bluntly pointed tips, blue-green to bright green color, folded vernation in the bud, membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, and continuous collar region
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from thick, branching stolons; moderate thatch tendency and rapid establishment from sod or plugs
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and tropical regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Aggressively stoloniferous with robust above-ground runners, forming a thick, dense turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses); high water needs for optimal appearance, moderate drought tolerance entering dormancy during severe dry spells
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 2.5 to 4 inches; medium to high maintenance level requiring regular fertilization, frequent mowing, and periodic dethatching
Special Characteristics
Moderate traffic and wear tolerance, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, excellent salt tolerance for coastal environments, poor cold tolerance
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in coastal regions, provides excellent soil stabilization and erosion control, forms dense single-species stands, limited wildlife food source compared to native grasses