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St. Augustine Grass

Stenotaphrum secundatum

Other Common Names

Carpet Grass

Plant Category

Grass and Sedge

Invasive Description

St Augustine Grass is a possible native to the southeastern United States including East Texas, being known from the Carolinas prior to 1800 according to Flora of North America and USDA. It is a stoloniferous warm season grass. It requires on average about an inch of water per week, so it is not recommended for much of Texas. In the wild it grows on sandy beaches, at the edges of swamps and lagoons, and along inland streams and lakes. Many people like the grass for its shade tolerance (reducing its water requirements somewhat) and for its easily-contained spread.

Ecological Threat

St. Augustine Grass is a medium- to high-maintenance grass that forms a thick, carpet-like mat crowding out other grasses. It requires a large amount of water, has shallow roots, and offers no erosion control.

How to Eradicate

For information on how to eradicate this invasive, view our statement on herbicide use and preferred alternatives for invasive plants.

Native Alternatives

You can replace this invasive plant with native alternatives. Here are some plants that make superior replacements.

Match your location on the Texas map to the color squares on the replacement plants below to find suitable replacements for your ecoregion.

Click for more details about the ecoregions
Additional Replacement Options: Thunder Turf