Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass. Well-adapted to transition zones.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (seeded types like Princess 77 or vegetative types like Tifway)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, with some cold-tolerant varieties surviving in Zone 6. Excellent heat tolerance and goes dormant during freezing winters.
About This Grass
Fine to medium texture, low-growing, highly aggressive turfgrass. Bright green to grayish-green in summer, turning brown upon winter dormancy. Height ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inches when maintained. Seed heads feature 3 to 7 slender spikes radiating from a single point (digitate arrangement).
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-width (2-3mm), flat, tapering to a sharp pointed tip. Color is blue-green to grayish-green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. Collar is continuous with sparse hairs.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending several feet into the soil. Aggressive rhizomes and stolons promote rapid establishment from sprigs or seed and excellent wear recovery, forming dense sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide. Cultivated globally in warm climates.
Growth Habit
Aggressive, spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground). Forms a very dense, tight mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 8 hours of direct sunlight per day). Highly drought tolerant due to deep roots (goes dormant in severe drought). Moderate water needs for optimal appearance. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow low at 0.5 to 1.5 inches frequently (1-2 times a week). High fertility requirements (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year in active growing season). Requires regular dethatching and aeration due to rapid thatch buildup. High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance (ideal for sports fields). High drought and salt tolerance. Good resistance to many common turf diseases. Excellent weed-crowding ability due to aggressive spreading.
Ecological Information
Introduced in many parts of the world and can act as an invasive weed in agricultural fields or non-turf settings. Provides low wildlife habitat value compared to native prairie grasses, but offers exceptional soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes.