Varieties of St. Augustine Grass For
North Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine
Standard St. Augustine Cultivars:
BitterBlue:
Bitterblue St. Augustine sod is a fine textured variety with a dense growth habit and a deep blue green coloring to the grass blades.
It is a good option of the Standard varieties of St. Augustine grass for landscapes where shade will be a factor to consider.
Bitterblue has a good cold tolerance but no known resistance to chinch bug damage or gray leaf spot known to be pests on St. Augustine grass sod.
Mow bitter blue at a height of 3.5 – 4 inches for best overall appearance and health.
Classic:
St. Augustine classic is used throughout Florida’s North Central and Southern areas of the state. Its shade tolerance is still under investigation.
It has good cold tolerance and Classic’s characteristics do not differ much from other Standard St. Augustine varieties.
It has a deep dark green coloring and is susceptible to common pest and disease problems typical to the species.
Classic should be mowed at a height of 3.5 – 4 inches for best overall appearance and health.
Irrigation is recommended when planting all St. Augustine sod varieties.
Flaratam:
St. Augustine Floratam is now the most widely used St. Augustine cultivar in Florida.
It does not tolerate shade well and must have a minimum of 6 hours of sun per day to thrive.
Although previously touted to have chinch bug resistance UF IFAS testing is now showing chinch bug damage typical of the species in Flortam.
Fast growth rate makes Floratam quick to establish in the landscape and helps it to recover from damage quickly as well.
Floratam does not tolerate cold well.
Mow St. Augustine Floratam at a height of 3.5-4 inches for best overall appearance and health.
Irrigation is recommended when planting all St. Augustine sod varieties.
Palmetto:
Palmetto St. Augustine is sometimes referred to as a semi dwarf cultivar because it has a slightly lower growth habit when compared to other Standard St. Augustine varieties.
It shows improved shade tolerance to other cultivars doing well in both part shade or full sun situations in the landscape but will not tolerant dense shade conditions.
It is susceptible to insects common to St. Augustine grass and occasionally suffers from diseases typical of the species.
Mow Palmetto St. Augustine to a height of 3.0 – .3.5 inches for best overall appearance and health.
Irrigation is recommended when planting all St. Augustine sod varieties.
Dwarf St. Augustine Grass Cultivars:
Sapphire:
Sapphire St. Augustine grass is known for its fine leaf appearance and has a nice blue green coloring to the leaf blades.
It spreads quickly by stolons and it’s fast growth during the summer months helps this grass recover quickly from damage done by common St. Augustine pests.
Sapphire is a low growing dwarf variety of St. Augustine grass and should be mowed to 2 – 2.5 inch height for best appearance.
Irrigation is recommended when planting all St. Augustine sod varieties.
Seville:
The dwarf cultivar Seville is a good choice for a low growing St. Augustine where shade will be a factor in your Jacksonville | St. Augustine | North Florida landscape. Although it will grow equally as well in a full sun environment.
Seville will be susceptible to common St. Augustine issues like chinch bugs and webworm damage and like other dwarf varieties of St.Augustine thatch can be a problem so be sure to follow proper mowing and watering guidelines.
Mow St. Augustine Seville sod to a height of 2 -2.5 inches when established and water on an as needed basis.
St. Augustine grass Seville can be cold sensitive and should not be planted in heavily frost prone areas.
Irrigation is recommended when planting all St. Augustine varieties.