St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Commonly 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto', known for broader blades and distinct blue-green or bright green coloring
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10; poor cold tolerance, goes dormant and turns straw-colored with first frosts; susceptible to freezing temperatures
About This Grass
Forms a thick, lush, carpet-like turf with coarse texture and bright to dark green color; unmaintained height can reach 6-12 inches, maintained typically at 2.5-4 inches; produces a flat seed head spike at maturity
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (over 5mm), flat shape with blunt or rounded tips, bright to medium green color, folded in the bud (vernation), short membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, absent auricles, continuous collar region
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from stolon nodes; establishes moderately fast from sod; moderate thatch-forming tendency; limited drought tolerance due to shallow root system compared to deep-rooted warm-season grasses
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of tropical and subtropical Americas, and Western Africa; widely cultivated in the Southern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading vigorously via robust, flat above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse-textured turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun but has the best shade tolerance among warm-season turfgrasses; requires high moisture and frequent watering; fair to poor drought tolerance, entering dormancy quickly under severe water stress; prefers moist, fertile, well-draining soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height ranges from 2.5 to 4 inches; high mowing height required for health; mow every 7-10 days during peak growing season; moderate to high fertilization (2-5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year); requires periodic dethatching; medium-high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Moderate to low traffic/wear tolerance due to spongy stolon structure; susceptible to chinch bugs, take-all root rot, and sod webworms; good salt spray tolerance; excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; poor drought recovery unless irrigated; excellent erosion control in coastal southern climates
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many tropical regions worldwide; provides moderate wildlife habitat and ground cover; excellent soil stabilization in coastal and sandy soils; forms pure stands with low tolerance for weed invasion when properly maintained