New Varieties of St. Augustine Grass

Captiva Grass

• A dark green, short-blade variety of St. Augustine grass first released in 2008, Captiva has several advantages for homeowners. It grows so slowly that it only requires mowing once every seven to 14 days. In terms of lawn pests, Captiva is resistant to the Southern cinch bug and the plant hopper, although it is susceptible to less gray leaf spot disease. Unlike other varieties of St. Augustine grass, Captiva grows moderately well in shady locations. It grows from coastal North Carolina to southern Texas, from southern Arizona along the California coast to San Francisco.

Sapphire Grass

• Developed in 2007, Sapphire St. Augustine grass is a hardy variety, deep blue-green in color, that is weed-, insect- and disease-resistant. It holds up well in busy backyards where children and pets play and flourishes with little fertilizer or water. Even during a drought, Sapphire requires only 1 inch of water per week. As for fertilizer, four applications a year are enough to keep the lawn looking lush and beautiful. Sapphire grows well from the coast of North Carolina to southern Texas, along the coast of California from San Diego to San Francisco, and in southern Arizona.

Palmetto Grass

• Arguably the most versatile variety of St. Augustine grass, Palmetto was developed in 1994 to tolerate heat, drought and frost; to grow very well in the shade; and to be fairly resistant to weeds, insects and diseases. Palmetto is also a low-maintenance grass that requires mowing only once every seven to 10 days and fertilizing only three to four times each year. As for watering and applying insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, these are required only on an as-needed basis. Furthermore, Palmetto grass keeps its emerald green color well into fall when other varieties of St. Augustine grass tend to turn brown. Palmetto grows in the same regions as Captiva and Sapphire grass, but also as far north as Norfolk, Va.