St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum
A thick, luxurious warm-season grass that creates a dense, carpet-like lawn perfect for Southern climates. Known for its excellent shade tolerance and aggressive spreading habit, it quickly fills in bare spots to create a lush green lawn. Its broad, flat blades give it a distinctive coarse texture that many homeowners love for its tropical appearance.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
7–12
USDA hardiness
Height
11 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for St. Augustine Grass in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 grass →Zone Map
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St. Augustine Grass · Zones 7–12
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day), Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Moist, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet. Water: Coastal Foundation Garden Coastal Garden - Tropical. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Slow. Maintenance: High, Medium. Regions: Coastal, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Fruits are available August-November.
Type: Caryopsis.
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
History & Origin
Origin: Coastal Foundation Garden Coastal Garden - Tropical
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Heat, Humidity, Poor Soil, Salt
- +Attracts: Small Mammals, Songbirds
Considerations
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Clover
Fixes nitrogen in soil, enhances grass nutrition and reduces need for fertilizer
Dandelion
Deep taproot brings nutrients to surface, benefits shallow-rooted grass
Plantain
Indicates soil compaction issues and helps aerate soil for grass roots
Violets
Provides ground cover in shady areas where grass struggles to grow
Ajuga
Tolerates foot traffic and fills bare spots under trees where grass won't grow
Moss
Indicates and thrives in acidic conditions that St. Augustine grass prefers
Wild Strawberry
Low-growing ground cover that complements grass without competing heavily
Chickweed
Provides natural mulch and soil protection during grass dormancy
Keep Apart
Bermuda Grass
Aggressive spreader that outcompetes and overtakes St. Augustine grass
Nutgrass
Fast-spreading sedge that crowds out grass and is extremely difficult to eliminate
Crabgrass
Annual weed that competes for water and nutrients, weakening grass stands
Dollarweed
Thrives in overwatered conditions and quickly spreads to dominate lawn areas
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate, susceptible to brown patch and gray leaf spot
Common Pests
Chinch bugs, sod webworms, grubs
Diseases
Brown patch, gray leaf spot, take-all root rot