The Best Grass for Shady Areas in Florida

Florida lawns require warm-season grasses that grow best in tropical or subtropical climates. For a shady Florida lawn, choose shade-tolerant grasses suited for the Southern section of the U.S.

St. Augustine grass requires good moisture and semi-fertile soil. When properly maintained, this thick-bladed, coarse grass will produce a thick, dark green lawn. This grass can adapt well to high-temperature areas, such as Florida, and is the most shade-tolerant of the warm season grasses. St. Augustine grass is available in a number of varieties, including Seville, which has the finest texture of the different types, Floratam, Floratine, Jade, Floralawn, Common and Raleigh.

Zoysia grass grows well in subtropical areas, such as Florida, and has a fine to medium texture. The low-growing, perennial grass feels wiry if you walk on it with your bare feet. It adapts well to soils, whether acidic or alkaline. Once established, it crowds out weeds, and is resistant to disease, insects and drought. Zoysia grass wears well and is often used on baseball fields, in parks and on golf courses. In Florida, the grass has a good tolerance in shady areas. Zoysia grass grows at a slower rate than other grasses and it does not need as much maintenance.

Centipede grass is one of the most popular grasses in the Southern U.S. The grass, which is slow growing, has stems that grow upward, causing it to resemble a centipede. This easy-maintenance grass is typically medium green in color, grows uniformly and does well in the shade, especially in areas where the trees have high limbs. The hardy, perennial grass can be planted in acidic or sandy soils.