St. Augustine Grass — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Stenotaphrum secundatum |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 21.1–35 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 30–60 |
| Measured from | Transplant |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 30.5–61 |
| Mature height (cm) | 7.6–15.2 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 30.5–61 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 8–11 |
| Light | Partial sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Transplant |
Growing directions
Install sod or plant plugs (12 inches apart) in spring through midsummer; keep consistently moist for 4–6 weeks during establishment. Mow at 3–4 inches; never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade at once. St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is the dominant lawn grass of the Gulf Coast region — the standard residential, commercial, and golf course rough grass of Florida, coastal Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia below zone 8. No other turfgrass matches St. Augustine for shade tolerance among warm-season grasses: it remains acceptably dense under moderate tree canopy where bermudagrass, zoysia, and bahia grass would fail from insufficient light — a critical advantage in the mature tree-shaded residential lots common throughout the Gulf South. The coarse-textured, broad-bladed leaves produce a lush, deep green lawn appearance that is visually distinct from the finer textures of bermuda or zoysia. St. Augustine spreads aggressively by above-ground stolons (runners), quickly filling gaps when plugs are installed correctly. The primary maintenance challenges are chinch bugs (a significant pest throughout the Gulf South), gray leaf spot (a fungal disease that can defoliate in warm, humid conditions), and susceptibility to cold injury below 20°F. Varieties like 'Floratam,' 'Raleigh,' 'Palmetto,' and 'Seville' offer different compromises of cold tolerance, shade tolerance, and disease resistance.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
OpenPlantDB · st-augustine-grass
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0