St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Panicae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam' or common St. Augustine
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Low cold tolerance, goes dormant and turns brown with frost. Does not tolerate heavy freezing temperatures.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing, mat-forming turfgrass with flat, broad blades. Color ranges from blue-green to dark green. Grows rapidly in hot weather and forms a thick, spongy sod.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades wider than 4mm, flat shape with rounded or blunt tips. Folded in the bud (vernation). Membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, continuous collar, and absent auricles.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous roots originating from stolon nodes. Forms a thick thatch layer rather quickly. Moderate establishment speed from plugs or sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical coastal regions of the Americas and West Africa; widely cultivated in the southern United States and tropical climates.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via above-ground runners (stolons) to form a coarse, dense turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Performs best in full sun, but has superior shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses (minimum 4 hours of direct sun). High water requirement to maintain green color during dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 2.5 to 4 inches. Requires frequent mowing during the growing season. Medium to high maintenance level, needing regular fertilization and irrigation.
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, poor traffic and wear recovery due to stoloniferous growth, susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, moderate salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many tropical and subtropical areas. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on coastal sites. Often planted as solid sod.