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 widely used cultivar known for its coarse texture, blue-green color, and vigorous growth.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (susceptible to frost damage and winter dormancy discoloration), highly suitable for coastal and subtropical climates.
About This Grass
Forms a lush, dense, carpet-like turf with coarse-textured, flat blades. Color ranges from bright to deep blue-green. Unmowed height can reach 6 to 12 inches, while maintained lawns are kept around 2.5 to 4 inches. Produces flattened seed spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades, width typically greater than 5mm. Shape is flat with blunt, rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Color is blue-green to dark green. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. Collar region is continuous and broad.
Root System
Moderate depth fibrous root system attached to thick surface stolons. Moderate to fast establishment speed from sod or plugs. Forms a tight sod that has a moderate thatch-forming tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. Widely cultivated in the southeastern United States, particularly Florida and coastal Texas.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via aggressive, thick surface stolons (runners) that form a dense, coarse turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade; highly shade-tolerant compared to other warm-season grasses. Needs regular watering (1 inch per week) and has moderate to good drought tolerance by entering dormancy during prolonged dry spells. Prefers moist, well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches using a sharp rotary mower. Mowing frequency is weekly during the growing season. Medium to high maintenance level requiring regular fertilization, periodic dethatching, and controlled irrigation.
Special Characteristics
Moderate traffic and wear tolerance, but recovers slower than Bermuda grass. Good salt tolerance, making it ideal for coastal lawns. Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass. Susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated across the southern US coastal zones. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on sandy coastal soils. Low wildlife habitat value as a monoculture lawn. Can be invasive in tropical natural areas if escaped.