St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10. Low cold tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses; suffers frost damage at temperatures below freezing and enters winter dormancy in cooler parts of its range.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Variety / Cultivar
'Palmetto' or 'Floratam', notable for shade tolerance and broader, blue-green leaves
About This Grass
Forms a thick, lush, carpet-like turf with coarse texture and a medium to bright green color. Grows relatively low to the ground with flattened stems and blunt-tipped leaves. Unmowed height can reach 6 to 12 inches, but typically maintained at 2.5 to 4 inches.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are coarse (greater than 4mm wide, typically 8-10mm), flat, with blunt, rounded tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. The collar region is continuous and broad.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system originating from nodes along the stolons. Establishes relatively quickly from sod or plugs. Prone to thatch accumulation under high nitrogen and moisture conditions.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Gulf of Mexico region, coastal areas of the Americas, and Western Africa; widely cultivated in warm, humid coastal regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous, spreading aggressively via above-ground runners (stolons) to form a dense, coarse-textured mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade; St. Augustine is the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass. High water requirement to maintain optimal color and growth; moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy during severe dry spells. Prefers moist, well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.5 to 4 inches using a rotary mower. High maintenance level requiring regular fertilization (2 to 5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year), frequent watering, and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Moderate traffic and wear tolerance, but slower to recover from damage due to stolon-only spread. Susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms, take-all root rot, and gray leaf spot. Excellent salt tolerance, making it popular for coastal properties.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many tropical and subtropical regions. Provides ground cover and erosion control, particularly in sandy coastal soils. Serves as habitat for various insects and small invertebrates.