Choosing the right grass for your yard can feel overwhelming—there are so many options out there, and it’s tough to know where to start. That’s why we put together this guide to break down the key differences between zoysia vs. St. Augustine grasses.
While each type has a range of varieties with their own perks, this overview gives you a solid starting point to find what works best for your lawn.
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Quick Comparison Table - Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass
| Feature | Zoysia | St. Augustine |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Varies from Cultivar Selection | Varies from Cultivar Selection |
| Blade Width | Wider Bladed: 5–7 mm, Finer Bladed: 2 mm | 8–9 mm |
| Texture | Smooth Feel | Coarse Feel |
| Shade Tolerance | Moderate | High |
| Mowing Height | 0.5–2 inches | 2–4 inches |
| Growth Habit | Stolons and Rhizomes | Stolons Only |
| Wear Tolerance | High | Moderate |
| Injury Recovery | High | Moderate |
| Drought Tolerance | High | Moderate |
| Drought Resistance | Moderate | High |
| Soil Preference | Clay, Loamy and Sandy | Loamy and Sandy |
| Salt Tolerance | Moderate | High |
| Fertility | Lower Nitrogen Inputs | Higher Nitrogen Inputs |
| Soil pH | 5.8–7.0 | 5.0–8.5 |
| Main Pests | Chinch Bugs and Billbugs | Grub Worms, Sod Webworms, Fall Armyworms |
| Main Diseases | Brown Spot, Rust and Leaf Spot | Brown Patch and Grey Leaf Spot |
Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass Color
Zoysia and St. Augustine come in a variety of shades:
Zoysia Colors
- Dark Green: EMPIRE®, Innovation®, CitraZoy®, BrazosTM, El Toro
- Deep Green: Geo®, Zeon, Zorro
- Light Green: Palisades
- Emerald Green: Lobo®, Meyer
Pictured above from left to right: EMPIRE, Innovation, Geo Zoysia, Zeon, CitraZoy, and Lobo.
Pictured above from left to right: Zorro, El Toro, Palisades, Meyer, and Brazos Zoysia.
St. Augustine Varieties
- Dark Emerald Green: Palmetto®
- Dark Blue-Green: CitraBlue®
- Dark Green: Cobalt®, Sola®
- Medium Green: Floratam, Raleigh
Pictured above from left to right: Palmetto, CitraBlue, Floratam, Raleigh, Cobalt, and Sola St. Augustine.
Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass Blade Width and Texture
- Zoysia: Ranges from narrow and fine (2 mm) to wider (5–7 mm). Softer, carpet-like feel.
- St. Augustine: Thicker blades (8–9 mm) with a flat, coarse texture. CitraBlue has a slightly narrower blade at 5–7 mm.
Pictured above from left to right: Innovation Zoysia and CitraBlue St. Augustine.
Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass Shade Tolerance
Winner: St. Augustine, especially CitraBlue® and Palmetto®.
Zoysia: Still performs well in moderate shade, with finer-bladed types (Innovation, CitraZoy, Lobo) doing best.
Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass Mowing Heights & Growth Habits
- Zoysia: Prefers shorter cuts (0.5–2 inches).
- St. Augustine: Grows best when mowed at 2–4 inches.
- Special case: Palmetto®, as a semi-dwarft St. Augustine, prefers 1.5–2.5 inches.
Growth Habit
- Zoysia: Spreads with both stolons and rhizomes (above and below ground) — great for wear and recovery.
- St. Augustine: Spreads only with stolons — better at weed suppression.
Pictured above: A St. Augustine stolon growing across the surface of the soil above ground.
Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass Wear Tolerance
- Zoysia: Higher wear tolerance overall, especially wider-bladed varieties like EMPIRE®.
- St. Augustine: Decent wear recovery; CitraBlue® is a standout.
Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass Drought Tolerance vs. Drought Resistance
Drought tolerance and drought resistance sound similar, but they’re a bit different—tolerance is about surviving tough dry spells, while resistance is about still looking good during them.
- Zoysia: Great at surviving drought through dormancy, recovers quickly.
- St. Augustine: Looks better during drought (resistance), but more vulnerable to long-term damage.
Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass Soil Preferences and Salt Tolerance
- Zoysia: Thrives in sandy, loamy or clay soils; moderate salt tolerance.
- St. Augustine: Best in sandy/loamy soils with good drainage; high salt tolerance — perfect for coastal areas.
Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass Fertility and pH
- Both need nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, manganese and sulfur.
- Zoysia: Prefers pH 5.8–7.0; tolerates poor drainage better.
- St. Augustine: Handles pH 5.0–8.5 but needs well-drained soil.
👉 Check out the Lawnifi® Fertilizer Program for tailored care for both grass types.
Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Pests to Watch Out For
- Zoysia: Prone to billbugs, but Innovation is resistant. EMPIRE® also resists chinch bugs.
- St. Augustine: More commonly hit by chinch bugs, sod webworms and fall armyworms.
Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass Disease Risks
- Zoysia: Watch for brown spot, rust and leaf spot.
- St. Augustine: More likely to suffer from brown patch and grey leaf spot.
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Zoysia vs. St. Augustine Grass FAQs:
Zoysia is generally more durable with higher wear and drought tolerance, making it ideal for active lawns, while St. Augustine offers superior shade tolerance and salt resistance, better suited for coastal or shady environments. The best choice depends on your lawn's specific conditions and maintenance preferences.
St. Augustine grass is more shade-tolerant than Zoysia, especially varieties like CitraBlue and Palmetto. Zoysia has moderate shade tolerance, with finer-bladed types like Innovation and CitraZoy performing best in low light.
Zoysia handles drought better overall due to its high drought tolerance and ability to go dormant and recover. St. Augustine has better drought resistance in appearance but is not as strong if it begins to dry out.
