St. Augustine Grass
Scientific Name: Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze
Synonyms: Ischaemum secundatum Walter
Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Stenotaphrum Trin./ Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Usda Symbol | STSE |
| Group | Monocot |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Growth Habits | Graminoid |
| Native Locations | STSE |
Plant Guide
Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where St. Augustine Grass is planted.
Plant Traits
Growth Requirements
| Fire Tolerance | High |
|---|---|
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Drought Tolerance | Low |
| Drought Tolerance | Low |
| Drought Tolerance | Low |
| Drought Tolerance | Low |
| Drought Tolerance | Medium |
| Fertility Requirement | High |
| Fertility Requirement | High |
| Fertility Requirement | High |
| Fertility Requirement | High |
| Fertility Requirement | Medium |
| Fire Tolerance | High |
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Fire Tolerance | High |
| Fire Tolerance | High |
| Fire Tolerance | Medium |
| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 180 |
| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 200 |
| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 200 |
| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 220 |
| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 230 |
| Hedge Tolerance | None |
| Hedge Tolerance | None |
| Hedge Tolerance | None |
| Hedge Tolerance | None |
| Hedge Tolerance | None |
| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | No |
| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | No |
| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | No |
| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | No |
| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | No |
| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | No |
| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | No |
| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | Yes |
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | 2 |
| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | Yes |
| Anaerobic Tolerance | None |
| Anaerobic Tolerance | None |
| Anaerobic Tolerance | None |
| Anaerobic Tolerance | None |
| Anaerobic Tolerance | None |
| CaCO3 Tolerance | Low |
| CaCO3 Tolerance | Medium |
| CaCO3 Tolerance | Medium |
| CaCO3 Tolerance | Medium |
| CaCO3 Tolerance | Medium |
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Salinity Tolerance | High |
| Precipitation, Maximum | 60 |
| Precipitation, Maximum | 60 |
| Precipitation, Minimum | 30 |
| Precipitation, Minimum | 40 |
| Precipitation, Minimum | 40 |
| Precipitation, Minimum | 40 |
| Precipitation, Minimum | 40 |
| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 12 |
| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 12 |
| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 12 |
| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 12 |
| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 18 |
| Salinity Tolerance | High |
| Moisture Use | High |
| Salinity Tolerance | High |
| Salinity Tolerance | High |
| Salinity Tolerance | High |
| Shade Tolerance | Intermediate |
| Shade Tolerance | Tolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Tolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Tolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Tolerant |
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | 12 |
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | 12 |
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | 17 |
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | 2 |
| Precipitation, Maximum | 60 |
| Moisture Use | High |
| Moisture Use | High |
| Moisture Use | High |
| Moisture Use | Medium |
| pH, Maximum | 7.5 |
| pH, Maximum | 7.5 |
| pH, Maximum | 7.5 |
| pH, Maximum | 7.5 |
| pH, Maximum | 7.5 |
| pH, Minimum | 4.8 |
| pH, Minimum | 4.8 |
| pH, Minimum | 4.8 |
| pH, Minimum | 4.8 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Maxim | 43000 |
| Precipitation, Maximum | 60 |
| Precipitation, Maximum | 60 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Minim | 10000 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Minim | 10000 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Minim | 10000 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Minim | 10000 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Minim | 10000 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Maxim | 43000 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Maxim | 43000 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Maxim | 43000 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Maxim | 43000 |
| pH, Minimum | 6.5 |
Morphology/Physiology
| Active Growth Period | Summer and Fall |
|---|---|
| Toxicity | None |
| Toxicity | None |
| Toxicity | None |
| Toxicity | None |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Fall Conspicuous | No |
| Fire Resistant | No |
| Fire Resistant | No |
| Fire Resistant | No |
| Fire Resistant | No |
| Fire Resistant | Yes |
| Flower Conspicuous | No |
| Flower Conspicuous | No |
| Flower Conspicuous | No |
| Flower Conspicuous | No |
| Flower Conspicuous | No |
| Foliage Color | Gray-Green |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Fall Conspicuous | No |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Porosity Summer | Dense |
| Foliage Porosity Summer | Porous |
| Foliage Porosity Summer | Porous |
| Foliage Porosity Summer | Porous |
| Foliage Porosity Summer | Porous |
| Foliage Porosity Winter | Porous |
| Foliage Porosity Winter | Porous |
| Foliage Porosity Winter | Porous |
| Foliage Porosity Winter | Porous |
| Foliage Porosity Winter | Porous |
| Foliage Texture | Coarse |
| Foliage Texture | Coarse |
| Bloat | None |
| Toxicity | None |
| Active Growth Period | Summer and Fall |
| Active Growth Period | Summer and Fall |
| Active Growth Period | Summer and Fall |
| Active Growth Period | Summer and Fall |
| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Moderate |
| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Rapid |
| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Rapid |
| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Rapid |
| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Rapid |
| Bloat | None |
| Bloat | None |
| Bloat | None |
| Bloat | None |
| Shape and Orientation | Prostrate |
| C:N Ratio | Low |
| C:N Ratio | Medium |
| C:N Ratio | Medium |
| C:N Ratio | Medium |
| C:N Ratio | Medium |
| Coppice Potential | No |
| Coppice Potential | No |
| Coppice Potential | No |
| Coppice Potential | No |
| Coppice Potential | No |
| Fall Conspicuous | No |
| Fall Conspicuous | No |
| Fall Conspicuous | No |
| Nitrogen Fixation | None |
| Leaf Retention | No |
| Leaf Retention | No |
| Leaf Retention | No |
| Leaf Retention | No |
| Lifespan | Long |
| Lifespan | Long |
| Lifespan | Long |
| Lifespan | Long |
| Lifespan | Short |
| Low Growing Grass | Yes |
| Low Growing Grass | Yes |
| Low Growing Grass | Yes |
| Low Growing Grass | Yes |
| Low Growing Grass | Yes |
| Foliage Texture | Coarse |
| Nitrogen Fixation | None |
| Nitrogen Fixation | None |
| Nitrogen Fixation | None |
| Nitrogen Fixation | None |
| Resprout Ability | No |
| Resprout Ability | No |
| Resprout Ability | No |
| Resprout Ability | No |
| Resprout Ability | No |
| Shape and Orientation | Prostrate |
| Shape and Orientation | Prostrate |
| Shape and Orientation | Prostrate |
| Shape and Orientation | Prostrate |
| Known Allelopath | No |
| Leaf Retention | No |
| Foliage Texture | Coarse |
| Foliage Texture | Fine |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
| Growth Form | Rhizomatous |
| Growth Form | Rhizomatous |
| Growth Form | Rhizomatous |
| Growth Form | Rhizomatous |
| Growth Form | Rhizomatous |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Known Allelopath | No |
| Known Allelopath | No |
| Known Allelopath | No |
| Known Allelopath | No |
| Height, Mature (feet) | 0.9 |
| Height, Mature (feet) | 0.9 |
| Height, Mature (feet) | 0.9 |
| Height, Mature (feet) | 0.9 |
| Height, Mature (feet) | 0.6 |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
Reproduction
| Propagated by Tubers | No |
|---|---|
| Propagated by Tubers | No |
| Propagated by Tubers | No |
| Propagated by Tubers | No |
| Propagated by Sprigs | Yes |
| Propagated by Sprigs | Yes |
| Propagated by Sprigs | Yes |
| Propagated by Sprigs | Yes |
| Propagated by Sprigs | Yes |
| Propagated by Sod | Yes |
| Propagated by Sod | Yes |
| Propagated by Sod | Yes |
| Propagated by Sod | Yes |
| Propagated by Sod | Yes |
| Propagated by Seed | No |
| Propagated by Seed | No |
| Propagated by Seed | No |
| Propagated by Seed | No |
| Small Grain | No |
| Vegetative Spread Rate | Rapid |
| Vegetative Spread Rate | Rapid |
| Vegetative Spread Rate | Rapid |
| Vegetative Spread Rate | Rapid |
| Vegetative Spread Rate | Rapid |
| Small Grain | No |
| Small Grain | No |
| Small Grain | No |
| Propagated by Tubers | No |
| Small Grain | No |
| Propagated by Bare Root | No |
| Seedling Vigor | Low |
| Seed Spread Rate | None |
| Seed Spread Rate | None |
| Seed Spread Rate | None |
| Seed Spread Rate | None |
| Seed Spread Rate | None |
| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
| Propagated by Bulb | No |
| Propagated by Bulb | No |
| Propagated by Bare Root | No |
| Propagated by Bare Root | No |
| Propagated by Bare Root | No |
| Propagated by Bare Root | No |
| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
| Commercial Availability | Routinely Available |
| Commercial Availability | Routinely Available |
| Commercial Availability | Routinely Available |
| Commercial Availability | Routinely Available |
| Commercial Availability | Routinely Available |
| Propagated by Seed | No |
| Propagated by Bulb | No |
| Propagated by Bulb | No |
| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
| Propagated by Corm | No |
| Propagated by Corm | No |
| Propagated by Corm | No |
| Propagated by Corm | No |
| Propagated by Container | No |
| Propagated by Container | No |
| Propagated by Container | No |
| Propagated by Container | No |
| Propagated by Container | No |
| Propagated by Bulb | No |
| Propagated by Corm | No |
Suitability/Use
| Post Product | No |
|---|---|
| Post Product | No |
| Post Product | No |
| Post Product | No |
| Palatable Human | No |
| Palatable Human | No |
| Palatable Human | No |
| Palatable Human | No |
| Palatable Human | No |
| Palatable Graze Animal | Medium |
| Palatable Graze Animal | Medium |
| Palatable Graze Animal | Medium |
| Palatable Graze Animal | Medium |
| Palatable Graze Animal | Low |
| Palatable Browse Animal | Low |
| Palatable Browse Animal | Low |
| Post Product | No |
| Protein Potential | Low |
| Protein Potential | Medium |
| Protein Potential | Medium |
| Protein Potential | Medium |
| Protein Potential | Medium |
| Pulpwood Product | No |
| Pulpwood Product | No |
| Pulpwood Product | No |
| Pulpwood Product | No |
| Pulpwood Product | No |
| Veneer Product | No |
| Veneer Product | No |
| Veneer Product | No |
| Veneer Product | No |
| Veneer Product | No |
| Christmas Tree Product | No |
| Lumber Product | No |
| Fodder Product | Yes |
| Fodder Product | Yes |
| Fodder Product | Yes |
| Fodder Product | Yes |
| Fodder Product | No |
| Christmas Tree Product | No |
| Christmas Tree Product | No |
| Lumber Product | No |
| Christmas Tree Product | No |
| Christmas Tree Product | No |
| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
| Palatable Browse Animal | Low |
| Lumber Product | No |
| Lumber Product | No |
| Lumber Product | No |
| Naval Store Product | No |
| Naval Store Product | No |
| Naval Store Product | No |
| Naval Store Product | No |
| Naval Store Product | No |
| Nursery Stock Product | No |
| Nursery Stock Product | No |
| Nursery Stock Product | No |
| Nursery Stock Product | No |
| Nursery Stock Product | Yes |
| Palatable Browse Animal | Low |
| Palatable Browse Animal | Low |
