Plant of the Month

June 2008

St Augustine grass

Stenotaphrum secundatum

AWAC recommends limiting turf areas in home landscape applications, because grass uses so much water. However, small, strategically placed turf areas can provide pleasing contrast in xeric landscapes without overextending the water budget. During summer months when water supplies are stretched to the limit in the high desert, warm season grasses, such as St Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), are much less water hungry than cool season grasses.

St. Augustine has a distinctively coarse-grained texture that provides overall visual and "bare feet" appeal. It spreads by stolons that creep across the top of the earth. Roots emerge from the bottom of multiple leaf nodes along the length of the stolons. While seed for some desirable varieties has recently become available, lawns are generally established by planting plugs, small cuttings, or sod.