Types of St Augustine Grass: Complete Guide

Last Updated on April 8, 2023 by Mattias

Since it is not something easily replaceable, choosing the right types of grass for your lawns and properties is an extremely important task. If you want to avoid additional costs and future regret, you’d need to make this decision thoroughly. Even after you choose one particular species, there are plenty of options under that as well, and you certainly can’t make this decision without essential information about each type. 

If you want to plant st. Augustine grass in your lawn, but aren’t sure which type to use, then keep reading this article. 

Let’s learn about st augustine grass types and their distinct characteristics. 

Types Of St Augustine Grass

Some of the most popular types of st augustine grass are listed below 

Palmetto st. Augustine grass 

Palmetto grass is undoubtedly one of the most popular types of st augustine grass. This grass was originally discovered in 1988, and ever since then, it has been used widely across the globe. Because st augustine is a warm-season grass, this cultivar also performs well in heat and full sun. It has standard growth requirements, and its primary growing season remains from late spring to early summer. 

If you’re wondering what this grass looks like, you’d be delighted to hear the answer. Palmetto grass has a dark emerald-green color that brings life to your lawn. It is a medium-textured semi-dwarf variety with small leaf blades and a plush appearance. 

Even though palmetto st.augustine grass appreciates direct sunlight and exposure to the sun, it can grow in shady areas as well. In fact, it is one of the few warm-season grasses that can tolerate shade at all. This grass is a good choice for shady lawns because it will grow densely as long as 4-5 hours of unfiltered sunlight are available. Palmetto is one of the most shade-tolerant st. augustine grasses and is also known as the “original shade grass” 

Furthermore, It is safe to say that palmetto is a type of tough grass that is not only tolerant to shade but heat, cold, and drought conditions as well. These hardy characteristics make it a good choice for your lawn. Palmetto tolerates frequent use pretty well, but in case it gets damaged, it has a speedy recovery rate. 

As for its maintenance requirements, palmetto st augustine grass needs about an inch of water per week, and the occasional application of fertilizer will certainly improve the quality and color. It should be mowed at the height of 1.5-2.5 inches for the best appearance. 

Features of palmetto st augustine grass

• Medium texture 
• High drought tolerance 
• Adaptable to various soil types
• Deep root system
• Shade tolerance 
• Heat tolerance 
• Plush
• Performs relatively well in cold temperatures and frost

Best use 

• Golf courses 
• Shady regions 
• House lawns 
• Sports fields 
• Commercial areas 

Seville st. Augustine grass 

If you’re thinking of planting Seville st. Augustine grass in your lawn then you can expect to see the best results. It is one of the most famous cultivars that is preferred due to several reasons. 

One of the best qualities about Seville is that it has a low-growth habit that is unlikely to invade your lawn. It is a great choice for overseeding and several people Plant it to cover bare spots/ shady regions of their lawns. It grows densely and covers the desired area in a carpeted form.

Much like palmetto, Seville is also a semi-dwarf variety that has a rich dark green color and fine blades. You will notice that Seville’s leaf blades are much narrower and shorter in appearance and sometimes they even exhibit an attractive blue-green color. This type of st augustine grass is specifically recommended for Florida lawns but it is a good option for any warm region.

If we talk about its maintenance needs, Seville doesn’t need much. It thrives when 6-7 hours of direct sunlight are available and doesn’t need any unfiltered light after that quota is filled. Where most grasses need 1 inch of water per week, Seville needs 2 inches of water (including rain) to grow properly. The best time to water it is during the early morning but late afternoon is acceptable too. This grass should be mowed at a height of 2-3 inches and its wear tolerance is excellent as well.

Features of Seville st augustine grass 

• Fine texture 
• Low growth habit 
• Shade tolerance 
• Drought tolerance 
• Salt tolerance 
• Attractive dark green color 
• Pleasant to walk on 

Best use 

• High traffic areas 
• Parks
• Schoolyards
• Commercial gardens
• House lawns 

Citrablue st augustine grass

As suggested by its name, citrablue is a deep blue-green colored st augustine cultivar. It was developed by the University of Florida and it is the best option for southern regions. This improved grass is well-liked because of its pleasantly attractive appearance and soft texture. Since citrablue grass has a low vertical growth, it doesn’t need constant mowing and attention. When you mow, the height should be kept at 2-3 inches.

One of the most notable appearance factors of citrablue grass is that its tinted blue color is distinguishable from any other grass variety and it stands out on your lawn. It grows densely and its leaf blades are flatter in appearance. Furthermore, It is an improved version that needs less water and fertilizer to thrive on your lawn. It is also resistant to common st augustine grass diseases such as gray leaf spots, large patches, brown patch, and root rot. In simple words, if you choose to plant this grass then your maintenance costs will surely decrease.

Some people even argue that citrablue is the only type of st augustine grass that outperforms palmetto’s shade tolerance. You can plant it in shady regions and expect the growth to be vigorous as long as 3-4 hours of direct sunlight are given. 

Feature of citrablue st augustine grass

• Superior shade tolerance
• Highly resistant to diseases
• Unique blue-green color
• Low-maintenance 
• Flat and wide blades
• Dense growth pattern 

Best use

• Regions with moderate shade
• Parks
• Commercial areas
• Residential gardens
• Sports fields 
• Golf courses 

Raleigh st augustine grass

Raleigh st. augustine grass is a little different than other cultivars. It was developed by North Carolina State University and one of its rare characteristics is its resistance to cold. It is a tough grass variety that has one of the best cold tolerance rates out of all the other cultivars.

If you live in a relatively cool part of the southern United States then this grass might be the perfect fit for you. It has a medium-green color and coarse texture that grows vigorously. Apart from being cold-tolerant, Raleigh grass is also disease-resistant and shade tolerant. These qualities for a cultivar make it much more desirable than common st augustine grass.

Furthermore, this cold-hardy grass is adaptable to almost all types of medium but heavy clay soils are the most recommended choice. It’s a bonus if your turf is also organic with low soil ph levels. 

Proper irrigation is extremely important for this grass or else it develops diseases and attracts pests. An inch of water each week is generally recommended but if you have sandy soil then watering requirements will increase and you’d need to water  ½  inch at least thrice a week.

Features of Raleigh st augustine grass

• Medium green color
• Winter hardy
• Drought tolerance
• Shade tolerance
• Coarse textures
• Recovers quickly after damage
• Dense growth

 Best uses 

• Parks
• Commercial gardens
• Relatively cooler regions
• Sports fields
• Home lawns
• Golf courses 

Sapphire st augustine grass

Sapphire st augustine grass is one of the fastest-growing grasses in the world and it has an attractive vibrant color. It is an extremely rare and desirable grass variety among lawn owners. It has a blue-green color that is retained well throughout the year. This species turns green in early summer and remains vibrant until late fall. This particular type of st augustine grass grows horizontally; its long grass blades are soft in texture. 

Apart from its beautiful appearance, sapphire grass has plenty of other benefits as well. This grass is cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and shade tolerant, making it a tough species. One of its best characteristics is its fast growth. Its purple leaf blades grow quickly, carpet your turf, and cover up bald spots on your lawn. 

On the bright side, this grass doesn’t need much maintenance either. It can grow and thrive with minimal water, fertilizers, and mowing. Sapphire st augustine grass recovers quickly after damage, but it is highly vulnerable to fungus. It should be mowed at a height of 2-3 inches and 1-1⁄2 inches of water should be given per week.

Features of sapphire st augustine grass

• Shade tolerance
• Horizontal growth
• Good wear tolerance
• Drought tolerance
• Distich blue-green color
• Color retention
• High-performance grass

Best use

• Residential areas
• Commercial landscapes
• Areas with 0-60% shades

Floratam st augustine grass

Floratam st. augustine grass is also one of the most popular types of st augustine grass. As it is commonly known, this grass was developed in 1972 by the Florida and Texas agricultural experiment station. It was designed as a solution to st. Augustine decline (SAD) virus that was quickly spreading through Florida. It is a variety that was also supposed to resist chinch bugs. However, the bugs have evolved over time, and Floratam doesn’t have that ability anymore.

Floratam st. augustinegrass has thick blades that are long and coarse in appearance. It is a type of grass that makes your lawn look healthy, plush, and pleasant for the eyes. It can also be used as a pasture grass because of its high nutrients and fast growth. 

Unlike most of the st augustine grass varieties, this grass isn’t as tolerant to shade, and it needs a lot of sun to grow properly. Florattam also requires constant mowing, and its height should be kept at 3 inches. This grass type is best suited for south and central Florida, where hot/humid conditions are available.

Floratam isn’t as quick to recover from damage as other st augustine varieties, but it is a common choice because of its lush appearance. It is drought resistant and retains its color pretty well during harsh climatic conditions. 

All in all, it is a classic choice that is guaranteed to show the best results if adequate maintenance is given.

Features of floratam st augustine grass

• SAD virus resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Dark green color
• Coarse texture
• Soft blades
• Pleasant to walk on
• Aggressive and dense growth 

Best use

• Commercial areas
• House lawns
• Coastal regions

Unpopular Types Of St Augustine Grass 

We have listed some of the most popular types of st augustine grass above and there is no doubt that these are the best varieties. They have useful characteristics and a range of benefits. However, there are some other types of st augustine as well. Keep reading to get a comprehensive overview. 

Bitter blue

It is an improved st augustine grass that outperforms floratam and other common varieties in every single way. As its name suggests, this cultivar has a dark blue color. It’s appearance and other characteristics make it a well-liked option.

• Dense texture
• Deep blue color
• Shade tolerance
• Drought tolerance
• Weed control
• Vulnerable to fungal diseases

Mercedes 

Mercedes st augustine grass is a newcomer among cultivars and the University of Florida developed it. It has broad flat stems and thick leaves that are coarse in texture. You can use it in residential and commercial areas

• Excellent wear tolerance 
• Drought tolerance
• Shade tolerance
• Blue-green color
• Coarse textured 
• Needs at least 4-6 hours of sun exposure 

Pro vista

It is a newly developed variety of st augustine grass with excellent weed control. This cultivar is glyphosate tolerant, meaning you can get rid of stubborn weeds without damaging pro vista. It was designed as a low-maintenance grass that needs less water, fertilizer, and mowing than previous varieties. 

• Rich green color
• Horizontal growth
• Dense growth
• Tolerant to heavy foot traffic

Evergreen 

Evergreen st augustine is a semi-dwarf variety with shorter leaf blades than other varieties. This grass remains green and vibrates in sunny lawns, but its shade tolerance is also pretty excellent.

• Wear tolerance
• Normal drought tolerance
• Shade tolerance
• Thrives in full sun
• Can’t tolerate heavy foot traffic

Delmar

Delmar st augustine is a coarse-textured grass that has an attractive dark emerald green color. Thanks to its hardiness, you can also plant this grass in colder regions.

• Good shade tolerance
• Turns brown despite its cold tolerance 
• Drought tolerance 
• Vigorous growth

Types Of St Augustine Grass Summary 

St augustine grass is an excellent choice for your lawn (especially if you live in the southern regions of the United States). In this article, we discussed all the types of st augustine grass. Some cultivars are more popular than others, but they all possess distinct benefits. We comprehensively explained each grass type’s characteristics, features, maintenance needs, best uses, and general benefits. We hope these details help you decide the best type of st augustine grass for your lawn. 

Make sure to consider your site conditions and choose a grass that performs best in your circumstances. For instance, if you live in a region where diseases and pests are common, choose a disease-resistant variety such as citrablue. If your desired area is under the shade, choose a shade-tolerant type such as palmetto. In short, take a look at each variety and see which one suits you the best.

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