St. Augustine Grass Stenotaphrum secundatum is a native perennial (12” – 16”) cultivated in lawns throughout Louisiana. It occurs naturally on sandy beaches, at the edges of swamps and lagoons, and along inland streams and lakes. St. Augustine Grass is used widely as a turf grass in residential areas of the South primarily for its rapid growth, high adaptability to most soil types, and high tolerance to both sun and shade. Another advantage is that St. Augustine Grass remains green and has a shorter dormancy period than most other turf grasses.