Carol Cloud Bailey
Family
Poaceae
Botanical Name
Stenotaphrum secundatum 'Floratam'
Plant Common Name
Softleaf Buffalo Grass, St. Augustine Grass
General Description
Saint Augustine grass is a perennial plant native to the southeastern United States, California, the West Indies and the Mediterranean, but has become naturalized in most of the sub-tropical and tropical areas of the world. It is used mostly as turf for lawns in warm zones and grows best when temperatures are hot and there is plenty of humidity. It forms dense to slightly open mats of vegetation. Saint Augustine spreads by means of flattened, above-ground, running stems or stolons. Plantlets form along the stems, rooting at regular intervals. The leaves emerge from loose sheaths folded and are fairly broad and coarse for turfgrass. The leaf color is yellow-green to blue green. Flowers are typical of grasses, held on short spikes among the leaves. However, most cultivars used for lawns do not produce fertile flowers or viable seed and must be propagated and planted from sod, plugs or stolons. The cultivar ‘Floratam’ was developed and release by the Florida and Texas Experiment Stations in the early 1970s. It was originally resistant to the Saint Augustine Decline virus and chinch bugs. Since then ‘Floratam’ has lost its resistance to chinch bugs and they are a major pest of this Saint Augustine. It is a vigorous selection which requires full sun. Floratam has poor cold tolerance and is often the last to green up in the spring.
Saint Augustine is found growing naturally along the edges of wet areas such as swamps, lagoons streams, and lakes and. on sandy beaches. Planted for turf, it prefers well-drained soil and full sun. Saint Augustine is moderately drought tolerant once established and can survive with occasional irrigation as needed. Saint Augustine 'Floratam' has good wear tolerance, poor cold tolerance and excellent salt tolerance.
Mowing is the key to success with a Saint Augustine lawn. Due to its broad leaves, 'Floratam' must be mowed very high to maintain enough leaf blade for good growth and the dense texture needed to crowd and shade out weeds. Mow 'Floratam' between three-and-a-half and four-and-a-half inches high. Fertilize with a balanced, slow-release product as determined by a soil test or local research. This turf grass is susceptible to a number of pest problems including chinch bugs, caterpillars, gray leaf spot disease and take-all root rot. Saint Augustine is very popular turf in hot summer and mild winter areas.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 9
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USDA Hardiness Zone
8 - 11
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Grass
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
3"-6" / 7.6cm - 15.2cm
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Bloom Time
Indeterminate
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Native To
Southeastern United States, California, Caribbean
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant
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Habit
Mat-forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Green
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Lawns and Turf
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Sometimes
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Self-Sowing
No
