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', known for its coarse texture and purple stolons
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 11; excellent heat tolerance but poor cold tolerance, going dormant and turning brown with frost
About This Grass
Forms a dense, lush carpet with a coarse texture and medium-light to blue-green color; unmanaged turf can grow up to 6-12 inches tall, but is maintained at 2.5-4 inches; produces distinct flat seed spikes
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat with blunt, rounded tips, folded in the bud (vernation), smooth texture, prominent collar region with a fringe of hairs serving as a ligule, and lacking auricles
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system spreading from robust surface stolons; forms a thick thatch layer over time; moderate establishment speed from sod or plugs
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; widely cultivated in the southern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading rapidly via thick surface runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (more shade tolerant than most warm-season grasses); needs regular watering and moderate drought tolerance, going dormant or wilting under severe dry spells
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.5 to 4 inches; high maintenance level requiring regular watering, moderate to high nitrogen fertilization, and periodic dethatching
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance and moderate salt tolerance (coastal areas); poor traffic and wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia; susceptible to chinch bugs and take-all root rot
Ecological Information
Introduced/cultivated turfgrass; provides basic ground cover and soil stabilization in coastal and southern residential landscapes; limited wildlife food value but creates good micro-habitats within lawns