Bitter Blue was one of the first variety developed over the coarser common type St. Augustine and was an improvement in texture and dark green color.
Delmar is an improved variety with excellent cold and shade tolerance.
Floratine was developed in Florida shortly thereafter for the same qualities but selected for its resistant qualities against SAD and chinch bug infestations. But was still similar to the pasture grasses in coarseness.
Floratam is similar to the first two with the difference being it will not stand the colder weather and must be grown in the lower sections of Florida and in the full sun. And is not as resistant to chinch bug infestation.
Floralawn is more cold hardy and can withstand the drier conditions than the other coarser varieties. It has greater resistance to chinch bug infestation.
Seville is a dwarf variety that was developed for shorter stems and therefore a finer texture with the smaller blades, chinch bug infestation and SAD resistance. It is another one that is not cold hardy.
Jade was developed along with Seville for the same properties of dwarfness, SAD and chinch bug resistance properties.
Raleigh came from North Carolina and was developed to withstand the cooler temperatures, finer textured , SAD resistance and more shade tolerant. It forms a dense, thick coverage.
Palmetto is a newer variety used extensively in South Florida.
Common varieties are still the only ones grown in the Texas areas. The main common variety has developed natural adaptations on its own all over the state.