St Augustine Grass is a cover crop — grown to build and protect the soil rather than for a harvest of its own. It's hardy across USDA zones 8 through 10 and shrugs off deer.
Zones
8-10
pH Range
5-8.5
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score St Augustine Grass on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether st augustine grass actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score st augustine grass against your land's real conditions.
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See St Augustine Grass
What St Augustine Grass is
St Augustine Grass grows as a perennial and reaches around a foot at maturity. It blooms in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow St Augustine Grass
St Augustine Grass grows in USDA zones 8 through 10. St Augustine Grass does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 8.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 150 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
8-10
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 8.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
50°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
150+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant st augustine grass in part sun with at least 4 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
St Augustine Grass prefers pH 5 to 8.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Turn it in before it seeds
Cut st augustine grass down or turn it into the soil before it sets seed, while the growth is still green — that's when it returns the most to the ground.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — st augustine grass isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
St Augustine Grass isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where St Augustine Grass thrives
St Augustine Grass is hardy across USDA zones 8 through 10. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 8–10·Where St Augustine Grass growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, St Augustine Grass can grow in these states:
See if St Augustine Grass will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether st augustine grass actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow St Augustine Grass in my zone?
St Augustine Grass grows in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant St Augustine Grass?
Most growers plant st augustine grass after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 150-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does St Augustine Grass need?
St Augustine Grass does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does St Augustine Grass need?
St Augustine Grass prefers soil pH 5 to 8.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does St Augustine Grass attract pollinators?
St Augustine Grass isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is St Augustine Grass safe for pets?
St Augustine Grass is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.