Developed by Texas A&M for Top Performance In the Houston Area

Cobalt St. Augustine: The New Standard for Houston Shade & Resilience

Cobalt St. Augustine is a breakthrough hybrid grass developed by Texas A&M to be the ultimate solution for challenging Houston landscapes. It offers the elite shade tolerance of Palmetto—thriving on just four to five hours of direct sunlight—but with significantly upgraded “DNA” for modern challenges. Cobalt is specifically bred to handle the intense Texas heat and water restrictions with superior drought tolerance, and it features the best fungal resistance in its class against Gray Leaf Spot and Brown Patch. This resilient, cold-hardy variety greens up faster in the spring than its rivals and can be easily blended with existing Raleigh yards to fix problem areas.

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Cobalt St. Augustine: The New Standard for Houston Shade & Resilience

Comprehensive Video Guide: Why Cobalt is Houston’s “Miracle” Turf

In this video, Michael Romine explores why Cobalt St. Augustine is being called a “miracle” for the Houston area. Developed through a partnership between Texas A&M and the creators of Palmetto, this variety was engineered specifically to check every box for a modern Texas lawn.+2

Elite Shade Performance: Cobalt inherits the high-performance shade DNA of Palmetto, making it a perfect fit for yards with mature trees.
Superior Disease Defense: Unlike standard St. Augustines, Cobalt features breakthrough resistance to Gray Leaf Spot and Brown Patch, significantly reducing the need for fungicide treatments.
Drought and Heat Resilience: Engineered to handle the “heat dome” and increasing water restrictions, it stays green longer during 100-degree days.+2
Faster Spring Recovery: As a cold-hardy hybrid, it “wakes up” and greens up faster in the springtime than its rivals.
Seamless Blending: Because it looks remarkably similar to Raleigh St. Augustine, it is the ideal variety to “mix and match” when repairing specific problem areas in your existing yard.

Cobalt St. Augustine Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification	Michael’s Pro-Tip
Best Use	Shady yards & water-conscious lawns	The “tough older sibling” to Palmetto.
Sun Requirement	4–5 Hours Direct Sun	Matches Palmetto’s shade tolerance but with better defense.
Mowing Height	2″ to 3″	Can be mowed slightly shorter than Raleigh
Watering During the Summer	1″ Per Week	Water infrequently (1–2 times) so roots “chase” the water down.
Disease Resistance	Superior	Best-in-class resistance to Brown Patch and Gray Leaf Spot.
Drought Tolerance	Excellent	Handles 100-degree days and water restrictions with ease.
Color	Bold Dark Green	Maintains a deep, vibrant color even under stress.
Maintenance	Moderate	Fertilize 3 times per year with Nitro-Phos products.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cobalt St. Augustine

Is Cobalt St. Augustine better than Palmetto for shade in Houston?

While both varieties require only four to five hours of direct sunlight, Cobalt is considered the “tougher older sibling”
. It provides the same high level of shade tolerance as Palmetto but adds superior disease resistance and better drought tolerance, making it more resilient during intense Houston summers and water restrictions.

Can I mix Cobalt with my existing Raleigh St. Augustine yard?

Yes. Cobalt looks remarkably similar to Raleigh St. Augustine. If you have specific shady areas where your Raleigh is thinning out, you can plant Cobalt in those spots, and it will blend seamlessly with the rest of your lawn while fixing the problem areas.

Michael’s Management Strategy for Cobalt St. Augustine

Shade Height

If your area is densely shaded, Michael recommends “bumping up” the mowing height to leave more leaf tissue for sunlight absorption.

Infrequent Watering

Avoid watering every day. Deep, infrequent sessions encourage the roots to grow deep, making the plant much more resilient during Houston heat waves.

Avoid Over-Fertilizing

While Cobalt loves its nutrients, over-fertilizing in shadier spots can invite issues; stick to the three-per-year Nitro-Phos schedule.

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Cobalt St. Augustine Grass Sod