Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season perennial, C4 metabolic pathway
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (likely non-hybrid based on visible sparse growth and high seed production)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; excellent heat tolerance; goes dormant (brown) when soil temperatures drop below 50-55°F.
About This Grass
A low-growing, grey-green grass that turns straw-colored during winter dormancy or extreme drought. Features an aggressive growth rate with prostrate stems. When mowed regularly, it is dense; when neglected (as shown), it becomes thinned with visible stolons and opportunistic weed infiltration.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-4mm), flat or slightly folded, pointed tips. Color ranges from light green to grey-green. Vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a fringe of short white hairs; auricles are absent; collar is narrow with long hairs at the edges.
Root System
Deep and fibrous; includes extensive rhizomes and stolons that allow for excellent drought recovery and high wear tolerance; heavy thatch producer; fast establishment from sprigs or sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa; widely naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, especially in the southern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and Rhizomatous; aggressive spreader that forms a dense, mat-forming sod via above-ground runners and underground stems.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8 hours daily); poor shade tolerance. Low to moderate water needs; possesses high drought tolerance by entering dormancy to survive dry spells.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 0.5 to 1.5 inches; high frequency required during peak summer growth. High fertilization needs (2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft). High maintenance due to rapid growth and thatch buildup.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic/wear tolerance; high salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance; exceptional ability to recover from damage via rapid stolon spread; can become invasive in garden beds.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides soil stabilization for erosion control; minimal wildlife habitat value in lawn form; highly competitive species that can out-compete native grasses if not managed.