Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass, well-adapted to the transition zone
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type or standard utility cultivars)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10 (and parts of zone 6 with winter protection); excellent heat tolerance; goes into complete winter dormancy and loses color when temperatures drop consistently below 50 degrees Fahrenheit
About This Grass
Forms a dense, fine-to-medium textured turf with a vibrant green color during the active growing season, turning straw-brown when dormant in winter; unmowed height can reach 4 to 12 inches with slender, digitated seed heads featuring 3 to 7 spike-like racemes
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is fine to medium (1.5 to 3mm), flat, with pointed tips; grayish-green to blue-green color; vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a fringe of hairs; auricles are absent
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending down several feet in favorable soils, combined with extensive rhizomes and stolons; moderate to high thatch tendency; rapid establishment speed and excellent wear recovery, forming a tightly knit sod
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Eurasia; naturalized worldwide in warm climates and widely cultivated in the southern United States and transition zone
Growth Habit
Aggressive combination of both rhizomatous (spreading underground) and stoloniferous (spreading above ground) habits, forming a dense, durable turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 8 hours of direct sunlight daily); high drought tolerance due to deep roots and dormancy capabilities; prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 but adapts to varied soil types
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 1.0 to 2.0 inches for common types (lower for hybrid sports turf); requires frequent mowing during peak summer growth; moderate to high fertilization needs (3 to 5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); periodic dethatching and aeration required; medium-high overall maintenance
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear recovery due to aggressive stolon and rhizome growth; good salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance; highly effective for erosion control on slopes; crowds out weeds effectively when healthy and actively growing
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides moderate wildlife cover and ground stabilization; highly effective for preventing soil erosion and filtering runoff; can exhibit invasive tendencies in agricultural beds or flower gardens adjacent to turf areas