Floratam, Palmetto, and Raleigh St. Augustine cut fresh from a Louisiana sod farm and delivered to your address. Statewide. Same-week delivery standard. Contractor pricing on volume.
| Botanical name | Stenotaphrum secundatum |
| Cultivars we supply | Floratam, Palmetto, Raleigh |
| USDA Zones | 8a through 9b (perfect across all of Louisiana) |
| Sun requirement | Full sun to medium shade, varies by cultivar |
| Shade tolerance | High (Palmetto deep shade, Floratam less) |
| Traffic tolerance | Low to medium |
| Salt tolerance | High (coastal native) |
| Mow height | 2.5 to 4 inches |
| Watering once rooted | 1 inch per week |
| Pallet coverage | Approximately 450 square feet |
| Best install windows | March-May, September-October |
| Establishment time | 2 to 3 weeks |
Stenotaphrum secundatum is native to the Gulf Coast, including coastal Louisiana, which is why it has been the dominant Louisiana lawn variety for over a century. The thick blade, deep green color, and shade tolerance fit our climate better than any other warm-season grass we supply. The LSU AgCenter turfgrass selection guide lists St. Augustine as the top recommendation for most residential yards across the state.
Louisiana sits in USDA Zones 8b and 9a, with 60+ inches of annual rain, hot humid summers, and mild winters. St. Augustine handles all of it. The variety thrives on the humidity that punishes northern grasses. Salt tolerance is another reason coastal homeowners reach for it.
You will find St. Augustine on the oak-canopied lots of Old Metairie and Garden District New Orleans, the historic streets of Lafayette, the older neighborhoods of Hammond and Covington, and most established subdivisions across Acadiana, the Florida Parishes, and the Northshore. It is the default Louisiana lawn for a reason.
Three cultivars cover most Louisiana yards. Picking the right one comes down to how much sun your yard gets and whether chinch bug pressure is a recurring problem on your street.
Best for: Full sun to partial sun yards
Bred at the University of Florida and Texas A&M for chinch bug resistance and SAD virus resistance, which is why it became the Louisiana standard. The default cultivar across Louisiana sod-growing parishes.
Watch-for: Chinch bug resistance has weakened over decades as bug populations adapted. Newer-strain Floratam from a quality grower still has meaningful resistance.
Best for: Shaded yards under mature oaks
Highest shade tolerance of any St. Augustine cultivar we supply. Finer blade than Floratam, denser growth in low light. Shows up in Old Metairie, the Garden District, Bywater, and the older streets of Lafayette.
Watch-for: Slightly less heat tolerance than Floratam, so full-sun lots are not its strong suit.
Best for: North Louisiana and Central Louisiana yards
Better cold tolerance than Floratam. Splits the difference on sun and shade. Shows up in Northwest Louisiana, Central Louisiana, and Northeast parishes where winter cold can damage less hardy cultivars.
Watch-for: Slower spread than Floratam, so establishment takes the full 3 weeks.
Best for: Premium upgrade over Floratam, distinctive blue-green color
University of Florida 2019 release. Better drought tolerance, better shade tolerance, and a deep blue-green color. Grown by Woerner Turf at Donaldsonville.
Best for: Premium yards and commercial properties that want roughly 50% fewer mowings
Sod Solutions 2018 release. Slow vertical growth means roughly half the mowings vs Floratam. Glyphosate-tolerant for clean weed control.
Most Louisiana residential yards land on St. Augustine for a reason. Here is how we match cultivar to situation. The LSU AgCenter is a solid second opinion if you want one.
Skip St. Augustine if your yard is rural acreage with acidic sandy soil (Centipede is the better fit), full sun with no shade and maximum drought hardiness (Bermuda wins), or chronic standing water (Carpetgrass is the niche pick).
St. Augustine works in all 64 Louisiana parishes, but it dominates in the regions where mature tree canopy, humid coastal climate, and traditional residential layouts give it the edge.
Strong fit regions:
Weaker fit: Northwest Louisiana (Bermuda dominates the dry sunbelt). Rural acidic acreage (Centipede is the low-input pick).
Call (985) 206-8585 or send your zip code, square footage, and which cultivar you want (Floratam, Palmetto, or Raleigh) through our contact form.
We confirm pricing and a delivery window inside an hour. We pull to the closest Louisiana sod farm growing your cultivar. Most St. Augustine in our network comes from historic Tangipahoa or Acadiana growers.
Fresh pallets arrive the morning you scheduled. Cut from the farm that day, never from storage.
St. Augustine is forgiving once it roots, but the first three weeks make or break the install. Here is the schedule we hand to every customer.
Honest side-by-side comparison. Not loaded toward what we are selling.
| Trait | St. Augustine | Zoysia | Bermuda | Centipede |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shade tolerance | High (Palmetto) to Medium (Floratam) | Medium | Very Low | Medium |
| Sun requirement | Mixed sun fine | Full to mixed | Full sun only | Mixed sun fine |
| Drought tolerance | Medium | High once rooted | Very High | Medium |
| Foot traffic | Low to medium | High | Very High | Low |
| Mow frequency | Weekly in summer | Weekly | 2x weekly in summer | Every 2 weeks |
| Establishment | 2-3 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Common use | Default residential | Premium residential | Sports, full-sun | Rural acreage |
| Cost tier | Middle | High | Middle | Low to middle |
St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a warm-season grass native to the Gulf Coast, including coastal Louisiana. It is the dominant Louisiana lawn variety. Performs best across Greater New Orleans, Acadiana, the Florida Parishes, Greater Baton Rouge, the Bayou Region, and Southwest Louisiana.
Two to three weeks with proper watering. Twice-daily watering for the first 7 to 10 days, daily for week 2, then 1 inch per week after rooted. Spring and fall installs root fastest because of cool nights and warm soil.
Pricing depends on cultivar (Floratam, Palmetto, Raleigh), volume, and delivery distance. Residential single-pallet pricing varies by zip and current farm cost. Call for an exact quote. Contractor pricing kicks in at five pallets.
Floratam is the default for full sun to partial sun yards across most of South Louisiana. Palmetto is the pick for yards under mature oak shade. Raleigh is the cold-tolerant pick for North or Central Louisiana yards.
Floratam was bred for chinch bug resistance, but Louisiana chinch bug populations have adapted over decades. Newer-strain Floratam from a quality grower still has meaningful resistance. Watch for yellowing patches in full sun July through September and treat fast if confirmed.
St. Augustine has wider, softer blades and better shade tolerance. Zoysia is denser, slower to establish, more drought tolerant once rooted, and holds up to foot traffic better. St. Augustine is the default Louisiana residential pick. Zoysia is the premium upgrade.
Yes. Contractor and builder pricing on five or more pallets per order. NET 30 terms with approved credit. Dedicated rep on a direct line. Recurring delivery scheduling for ongoing Louisiana projects.
Click your city or parish for local delivery details.
Floratam, Palmetto, or Raleigh St. Augustine cut fresh from a Louisiana sod farm and delivered to your address. Same-week delivery standard.
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7 AM to 6 PM · Statewide delivery · Contractor pricing on volume