St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or Floratam style (likely naturalized/common)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 55°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing grass with a vibrant deep green to blue-green color. It forms a thick, carpet-like turf and is known for its wide, rounded blades and prominent stolons.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse width (>4mm), folded vernation, rounded or blunt tips, smooth edges, short membranous ligule with hairs, no auricles; blades emerge at a 90-degree angle from the stem.
Root System
Fibrous and relatively shallow but anchored by thick, fleshy stolons; creates moderate thatch; moderate establishment speed from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to coastal regions of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Africa; adapted to tropical and subtropical climates
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via thick above-ground runners), forms a dense mat but can be patchy in low-light or poor soil
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial Sun to Full Sun (one of the most shade-tolerant warm-season grasses); needs 4-6 hours minimum; high water needs; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
High mowing height (3.0-4.0 inches); mow every 7-10 days; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; high maintenance due to water and pest susceptibility.
Special Characteristics
Excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high salt tolerance (good for coastal areas); poor wear tolerance due to succulent stolons; prone to Chinch bugs and Large Patch.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in southern US; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal areas; can be invasive in native wetlands; often grown as a mono-stand rather than a blend.