Bermuda Grass (Common or Hybrid)
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (likely based on coarse texture/long internodes visible)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; excellent heat tolerance; poor cold tolerance (goes dormant below 50°F/10°C).
About This Grass
Thin to medium-textured grass that forms a dense, resilient mat. Features conspicuous reddish-purple stolon internodes and a deep green to gray-green color. It goes dormant and brown after the first hard frost.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 2-4mm (medium); flat or slightly folded; pointed tip; gray-green to dark green; vernation is folded; ligule is a fringe of hairs; auricles are absent; conspicuous hairs often present at the leaf collar.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system with extensive aggressive rhizomes and stolons; moderate thatch tendency; fast establishment; excellent drought tolerance and wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa, widely naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions of the Southern US
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and Rhizomatous (aggressive spreading above and below ground)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (minimum 6-8 hours); low to moderate water needs; high drought tolerance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
0.5 to 2.0 inches; high frequency (weekly); 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year; high maintenance levels for turf quality; requires periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic tolerance; high salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance; rapid recovery from injury; effective weed suppression when dense; widely used on golf fairways.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; can be invasive in garden beds; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; moderate wildlife value as cover.