Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type / naturalized)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance, moderate cold tolerance where it enters winter dormancy and turns straw-brown under frost.
About This Grass
Forms a tight, dense turf of medium texture with grey-green to bright blue-green leaves. Unmowed height can reach 4-15 inches, but it maintains well under low mowing heights. Produces distinctive finger-like (digitate) seed heads with 3 to 7 spikes radiating from a single point.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium width (2-3 mm), flat or folded, with pointed tips and rough margins. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent. The collar region is continuous and often features hairs.
Root System
Deep, aggressive root system with extensive rhizomes and stolons. Establishes rapidly from seed or sod, has moderate to high thatch tendency under high fertility, and offers exceptional drought and wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, now naturalized worldwide in warm climates.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, dense mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun is required (poor shade tolerance). Requires moderate to high moisture for optimal growth but possesses exceptional drought tolerance by going dormant during dry spells. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inches for turf varieties. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season. High maintenance when managed as a fine lawn (frequent fertilization, 4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year, and regular dethatching).
Special Characteristics
Outstanding wear and traffic tolerance, making it popular for sports fields and golf courses. Excellent drought recovery, fair salt tolerance, zero shade tolerance, and aggressive weed-crowding ability.
Ecological Information
Introduced to many parts of the world outside its native range. Provides excellent soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes. Can behave as an invasive weed in agricultural fields or flower beds due to its aggressive spreading nature.