NC State Extension Publications

Description

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St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a warm-season grass with medium density and medium to dark green color. Of all the warm season grasses, it is the least cold tolerant and has the coarsest leaf texture. St. Augustinegrass grows best in warm, humid areas that are not exposed to long periods of cold weather. In fact, its lack of cold tolerance is the major limiting factor in determining its use in North Carolina. Centipedegrass can often be confused with St. Augustinegrass. However, centipedegrass has alternating leaves at the nodes whereas St. Augustinegrass has opposite leaves at the nodes. Centipedegrass also has a more pointed, slenderer leaf blade than St. Augustinegrass. Both leaf blades are V-shaped in cross section, but that of St. Augustinegrass has a more obviously boat-shaped tip.

Lawn Maintenance

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Species Data

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  • SEEDHEAD / FLOWER
  • VERNATION TYPE
  • LIGULE TYPE
  • GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
    • warm season turf
  • AURICLE TYPE
  • LEAF BLADE TIP SHAPE
  • LEAF BLADE WIDTH
    • 0.16 - 0.4 inches (4 - 10 mm) wide
  • STOLON PRESENCE
  • RHIZOME PRESENCE
    • absent
  • COLLAR TYPE
  • SHEATH MARGIN
    • open; sheath is slightly hairy along edges and toward top
      Figure 5
St. Augustinegrass in lawn

Figure 1. St. Augustinegrass.

St. Augustinegrass seedhead next to ruler

Figure 2. St. Augustinegrass seedhead.

horizontal view of St. Augustinegrass seedhead.

Figure 3. St. Augustinegrass seedhead.

additional photo of St. Augustinegrass.

Figure 4. St. Augustinegrass.

St. Augustinegrass vernation.

Figure 5. St. Augustinegrass vernation.

St. Augustinegrass ligule.

Figure 6. St. Augustinegrass ligule.

St. Augustinegrass ligule.

Figure 7. St. Augustinegrass ligule.

St. Augustinegrass leaf blade tip shape.

Figure 8. St. Augustinegrass leaf blade tip shape.

St. Augustinegrass.

Figure 9. St. Augustinegrass.

St. Augustinegrass.

Figure 10. St. Augustinegrass.

St. Augustinegrass leaf blade shape.

Figure 11. St. Augustinegrass leaf blade shape.

St. Augustinegrass stolon.

Figure 12. St. Augustinegrass stolon.

St. Augustinegrass collar type.

Figure 13. St. Augustinegrass collar type.

Author

Professor & Extension Specialist
Crop & Soil Sciences

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Publication date: Aug. 22, 2022

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