Sapphire vs. Palmetto Grass

Origin and Environment

• Palmetto St. Augustine varieties originated in Florida in 1988 and were released into the market during the mid-1990s. Australia was the origin of Sapphire St. Augustine grass. This cultivar was first released in the mid-2000s. Both grass grow in the Department of Agriculture's Hardiness Zones 8 to 11. These zones include states with high levels of humidity, including Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.

Size

• Palmetto St. Augustine grass is a standard cultivar, while sapphire varieties are dwarf cultivars. One of the chief differences between the two grasses is their minimum height requirements after mowing. Horticulturists maintain palmetto grasses at about 3 to 4 inches. The usual height for sapphire grass is 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches tall. However, palmettos are one of the smallest standard cultivars because of its shorter leaf blades.

Leaves

• Sapphire grasses feature long, folded leaves with a blue-green or purple coloration. The leaves of sapphire St. Augustines grow laterally, rather than straight up. The sapphire St. Augustine leaves grow at more rapid rate than palmetto varieties. Palmetto grass is light green and grows more vertically than sapphires. Also, palmettos have higher degrees of shade tolerance and cold hardiness than other St. Augustine cultivars.

Problems

• Like all St. Augustine grasses, palmetto and sapphire cultivars are susceptible to leaf diseases and insect pests. Army worms and web worms feast on the roots of palmettos and sapphires, which causes leaf wilting and discoloration. These insects attack new grass more frequently than old turf because new plant roots are more vulnerable. Gray leaf spot is a leaf disease caused by the Pyricularia grisea fungus. This disease occurs frequently on St. Augustine grass cultivars and results in heavy spotting and wilting. According to the University of Arkansas' Division of Agriculture, Palmetto is more resistant to this disease than sapphire.

Lawn Maintenance

• Similar gardening methods apply when growing sapphire and palmetto cultivars. During the summer, both varieties require 1 inch of water per week for the best growth. If either cultivar shows signs of wilting, water 30 percent to 50 percent of the lawn. St. Augustine grasses prefer nitrogen-rich fertilizer and horticulturists apply up to 4 lbs. of fertilizer for every 1,000 square-feet per year. Palmetto and sapphire grasses grow best if mowed regularly in the summer. Mowing is not required in the winter.