Carpet Grass Stenotaphrum secundatum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Ischaemum secundatum
- Phonetic Spelling
- sten-oh-TAF-rum see-kun-DAY-tum
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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St. Augustine Grass is a spreading turfgrass that is native to the southeastern U.S.A. as well as South America and Africa. Originating along the Atlantic Ocean, it can be found along sandy beaches, Swamp and lagoons edges, island streams, lakes, marshes and along roadsides.
It is commonly used as pasture grass and also grown as a lawn. This plant is heat tolerant and mildly drought tolerant. There are many cultivars of this plant available. This plant spreads by rhizomes and if used as lawn grass, it rarely needs mowing. It is sold by turf or plugs and rarely propagates by seed.
Its dense, tight structure makes it resistant to weed infestation. It's known to improve soil structure, enhance water infiltration rates and also increases the soils water retention capacity.
Grown as a lawn, it will grow in most soils that are found in the southern states. It has a high shade tolerance, making it a better choice than other southern grasses.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Spreading by stolons or runners, it can expand into unwanted locations.
Its wear tolerance is low. Not recommended for use in high traffic locations such as a sports field.
Its drought tolerant is low, it will lose its color under dry conditions.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Coastal Rain Garden Coastal Foundation Garden Coastal Foundation- Tropical
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Stenotaphrum
- Species:
- secundatum
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Lawns, forage
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A., South America, Africa
- Distribution:
- AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MO, MS, NC, NM, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Perennial
- Turfgrass
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Dense
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are available August-November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers bloom July-October. They form in an inflorescence where the short stems of the flower are sunken into pockets on one or both sides of the central axis.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The narrow leaves have a hairy ligule, a strap-shaped membrane scale on the inner side of the leaf sheath at its junction with the blade.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems branch from numerous nodes.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Problems:
- Invasive Species