Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10, with some cold-tolerant cultivars extending into Zone 6. Excellent heat tolerance, goes dormant and turns straw-colored upon experiencing frost, and greens up rapidly in spring as temperatures rise above 65°F.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved naturalized type)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with fine to medium texture. Typical height when unmowed can reach 4-15 inches, but maintained lawns are kept at 0.5-1.5 inches. Color is a vibrant green during the active growing season, turning brown and going dormant during winter frosts. Produces a digitate seed head with 3 to 7 slender spikes arranged in a cluster at the top of the stem.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are flat to folded, narrow (2-3 mm wide), with pointed tips and prominent parallel veins. Color is grayish-green to light green. Vernation is folded in the bud. The ligule is a fringe of hairs, and the collar region has characteristic long hairs (tufted) at the base of the blade, with absent or inconspicuous auricles.
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system capable of reaching depths of 6 feet or more in favorable soils. Forms a very dense thatch layer if not managed. Establishes rapidly from seed, stolons, or plugs, providing exceptional wear recovery and drought resistance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in warm temperate to tropical regions globally.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, tight, mat-like turf.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily) and has zero shade tolerance. Moderate water needs once established, with exceptional drought tolerance due to deep roots and summer dormancy mechanisms. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is low, ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 inches using a reel or sharp rotary mower. Requires frequent mowing during peak growth. Fertilization needs are high (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year for high-maintenance turf). Requires regular dethatching and aeration due to rapid thatch buildup. High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance with rapid recuperative ability, making it ideal for athletic fields, golf courses, and high-use lawns. Good salt tolerance and drought recovery. Can become an invasive weed in flower beds and gardens due to aggressive stolon and rhizome spread.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes and coastal areas due to dense root and stolon network. Offers limited wildlife food value but serves as cover for insects and small ground-dwelling animals.