Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Erosion Control Grass
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10. Excellent heat tolerance, goes into winter dormancy (turns brown) when temperatures drop below 50°F. Fair cold tolerance for a warm-season grass.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (uncultivated wild type)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with grayish-green to medium-green leaves. Can grow 4 to 15 inches tall if left unmowed, but maintained as a short lawn. Seed heads consist of 3 to 7 digital (fingered) spikes radiating from a single point.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-3mm), flat blades with pointed tips. Gray-green to light green color. Vernation is folded in the bud. Features a membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending up to 6 feet or more in favorable soils. Fast establishment from seed and vegetative parts. Low to moderate thatch tendency, highly drought-tolerant and recovers rapidly from heavy wear via vigorous spreading.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to East Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized in temperate and tropical zones globally.
Growth Habit
Aggressive, spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, wear-resistant turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (poor shade tolerance). Moderate watering needs once established, but extremely drought-tolerant by entering dormancy under severe moisture stress. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 0.75 to 1.5 inches for lawns, frequently during peak growing season. Requires moderate to high fertilization (3-5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year) for optimal appearance. High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance, rapid recovery from damage, good salt tolerance, excellent for erosion control, poor shade tolerance, highly competitive against weeds.
Ecological Information
Often acts as an introduced or invasive species in natural ecosystems where it outcompetes native vegetation. Provides good grazing for livestock and forage/cover for wildlife in agricultural settings, though valued primarily as a utility turf grass.