St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Panicoideae, Tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Floratam' or 'Palmetto' based on blade width and growth density
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 55°F.
About This Grass
A coarse-textured, low-growing turfgrass that forms a thick, carpet-like sod. It features a medium to dark green color and remains relatively low but can reach 6-12 inches if left unmowed. Seed heads are inconspicuous, spike-like racemes.
Blade Characteristics
Coarse blades (8-10mm width), flat shape with a distinctively rounded or 'boat-shaped' blunt tip. Vernation is folded in the bud. Color is typically deep green. Ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent; collar is continuous and narrowed.
Root System
Extensive fibrous root system primarily established through stolons; moderate depth; high thatch-forming tendency; slow to moderate establishment from plugs or sod (rarely by seed).
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Gulf of Mexico region, West Indies, and Western Africa; thrives in tropical and subtropical coastal climates
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous (spreads via aggressive above-ground runners), forming a dense, coarse-textured mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial sun to full sun (needs 4-6 hours); excellent shade tolerance for a warm-season grass; high water requirements; moderate drought tolerance but wilts noticeably when dry.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height of 2.5 to 4.0 inches; weekly mowing; requires 2-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance due to water and pest needs.
Special Characteristics
High salt tolerance (ideal for coastal areas); best shade tolerance among warm-season grasses; poor wear tolerance (does not handle heavy foot traffic well); susceptible to Chinch bugs and Large Patch (fungus).
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in the US; provides soil stabilization in sandy coastal areas; low wildlife value; non-invasive in non-tropical climates; often grown as a mono-stand rather than in mixes.