St. Augustinegrass
[Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze]
St.
Augustinegrass 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.
|
Characteristic
|
Description
|
|
Seedhead
/ Flower
|
seedhead
a thick spike with spikelets imbedded along the sides
|
|
Vernation
Type
|
leaves
folded in the bud
|
|
Ligule
Type
|
short
fringe of hairs, 0.01 inches (0.3 mm) long
|
|
Growth
Season / Life Cycle
|
warm
season turf
|
|
Auricle
Type
|
absent
|
|
Leaf
Blade Tip Shape
|
boat
shaped; blunt; not hairy
|
|
Leaf
Blade Width
|
0.16 -
0.4 inches (4 - 10 mm) wide
|
|
Stolon
Presence
|
present;
stout
|
|
Rhizome
Presence
|
absent
|
|
Collar
Type
|
continuous;
not hairy, constricted
|
|
Sheath
Margin
|
open;
sheath is slightly hairy along edges and toward top
|
|
Sheath
Type
|
flattened;
sharply creased, loose
|
|
|
|
|
St.
Augustinegrass ligule, auricle, collar
|
St.
Augustinegrass leaf arrangement
|
Note: Still not
sure this is the right turfgrass? The Turf & Weed Identification
Decision Aid may help. Check the TurfFiles glossary for definitions
of unfamiliar terms.
Need help in selecting the best
turfgrass for your particular situation? The Turf/Cultivar Selection
Decision Aid will help you sort through the options which are available.
For more information on turfgrass/cultivar selection, establishing a new lawn,
caring for a new lawn, or renovating a lawn, see AG-69,
Carolina Lawns. For management information, check
the maintenance
calendar.
Diseases Which May Affect This Turfgrass
dollar spot
fairy ring
gray leaf
spot
large patch
Pythium
root rot
slime mold
© North Carolina State University. This information sheet was prepared
by Arthur H. Bruneau, Bridget R. Lassiter, Gail G. Wilkerson, Emily J.
Erickson, Casey Reynolds, Jenifer J. Reynolds, and Gregory S. Buol. Department
of Crop Science, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, North Carolina
State University. Prepared April 29, 2008. Available
on-line at www.turffiles.ncsu.edu. This publication was made possible through a
grant provided by the Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research &
Education (CENTERE) whose purpose is to support worthwhile projects that will
benefit both the private sector and the public, and protect the environment.