St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10; excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (susceptible to frost damage and enters winter dormancy in cooler parts of its range)
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
'Floratam' (most common wide-bladed cultivar with good drought and insect resistance)
About This Grass
Coarse-textured, dense, low-growing warm-season turfgrass with a bright to dark blue-green color; forms a thick carpet-like sod; height ranges from 1 to 3 inches when maintained, and can grow much taller if left unmowed, producing flattened seed spikes
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (>4mm wide), flat shape with blunt or rounded tips, bright green to blue-green color, folded vernation in the bud, prominent midrib, short membranous ligule with hairs, and absent or very small auricles
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes along thick stolons; moderate to high thatch tendency; establishes quickly from sod or plugs; forms a very dense sod that recovers well from wear via stolon growth
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions along the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean; widely cultivated in the southeastern United States
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to moderate shade (more shade-tolerant than most warm-season grasses); needs regular watering (1 inch per week) and moderate drought tolerance; prefers moist, fertile soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 3.5 inches high; high frequency during peak growing season; fertilization of 2 to 4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; regular dethatching and aeration needed due to thick stolons; medium-high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Good shade tolerance for a warm-season grass, moderate salt tolerance (ideal for coastal regions), poor wear tolerance compared to Bermuda or Zoysia, prone to chinch bugs and take-all root rot, excellent erosion control
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in coastal and warm regions; provides minor ground cover for local wildlife and stabilization for sandy coastal soils; generally non-invasive outside landscaped areas