Central Florida Deep Shade: St. Augustine Varieties or Groundcovers

Reader Problem: Two Huge Trees, Total Shade, Failed Seed Attempts

Central Florida homeowner (Zone 9) has dense shade under mature trees. Multiple seed attempts failed. Wants grass type and method.

Reality Check: No Turf Thrives in Deep Shade

Even the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass (St. Augustine) needs 6–7 hours of sun. "Dense shade" means <2 hours. Grass will be thin, weak, disease-prone.

Best St. Augustine Cultivars for Partial Shade

• Dwarf types: Amerishade, Bitterblue, Classic, Delmar, Seville—best shade performance.
• Avoid: Floralawn, Floratam (common but shade-weak).
• Establishment: Sod or plugs only—St. Augustine spreads by stolons, not seed.

Zoysia 'Ultimate' (UF Release)

New University of Florida variety with improved shade tolerance. Worth trying if you have 4–6 hours filtered sun.

Plan B: Shade Groundcovers (Often Better)

For deep shade, groundcovers outperform grass. Top picks for Central Florida:

• Liriope (monkey grass): Grass-like, takes foot traffic, evergreen.
• Asian Jasmine: Dense, spreads, fragrant flowers.
• Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon): Low, tidy, shade-loving.
• Boston Fern / Wandering Jew: Lush, tropical look—need more water.
• Coontie (Zamia pumila): Native, cycad, very tough.
• Algerian Ivy: Vigorous, climbs trees—contain it.

Critical: No Chemicals Under Trees

Tree roots absorb everything. Herbicides/fungicides damage trees. Organic only: sugar, compost tea, mulch.

Assess Your Actual Sun

Watch the area dawn to dusk. Count hours of direct sun. If <4, skip grass. Plant groundcovers. If 4–6, try dwarf St. Augustine sod. If 6+, you have more options.