Turfgrass breeders at Texas A&M University develop drought-tolerant grass

The Turfgrass Producers of Texas launched a new website dedicated to TamStar to serve as a resource for industry professionals and homeowners regarding TamStar St. Augustine, a new drought-tolerant, low-water-use grass developed by turfgrass breeders at Texas A&M University. Specifically, the website offers research and information about TamStar’s benefits, installation, maintenance and where to purchase this sod.

TamStar St. Augustine is the result of more than a decade of research at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas. It was bred to stand up to drought and specifically meet the demands of commercial and residential lawns and landscapes in Texas. The grass is now on the market and ready for harvest at more than a dozen farms and nursery centers throughout the state.

Along with drought tolerance and low water use, studies show TamStar demonstrates pest and disease tolerance, specifically to southern chinch bugs and tropical sod webworms, as well as a higher tolerance to gray leaf spot disease than competing commercial St. Augustine grass varieties. TamStar has a deep root system that allows it to tolerate stressful drought periods, with a rapid recovery response once irrigation resumes.