Warm-Season Grass Series: St. Augustine Grass(1)
St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a popular warm-season turfgrass, widely planted in the southern United States, Florida (like Miami), along the Gulf Coast, and other tropical/subtropical regions. It's favored for its heat and humidity tolerance, salt tolerance, and dense growth.
Basic Features
Family and Genus: Poaceae family, Stenotaphrum genus.
Growth Type: Stoloniferous, spreads via above-ground stolons, forming a thick turf.
Leaves: Wide and flat, slightly rounded tips, coarse texture, dark green to blue-green color.
Root System: Shallow, average drought tolerance, good flood tolerance.
Cold Tolerance: Weak (USDA Zones 8-11), goes dormant below 10°C (50°F), frost can cause yellowing.
Main Advantages
✅ Heat and humidity tolerance: Ideal for high-temperature and high-humidity areas like Miami and Houston.
✅ Salt tolerance: Suitable for coastal areas, more salt-tolerant than Bermuda grass.
✅ Shade tolerance: Performs better in shaded areas (e.g., under trees) compared to Bermuda and Zoysia grass.
✅ Fast growth: Strong coverage, quickly fills in bare spots.
✅ Weed resistance: Dense growth naturally suppresses weeds.
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