Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; excellent heat tolerance; enters dormancy when soil temperatures drop below 50°F.
About This Grass
A dense, low-growing turfgrass with a grey-green to dark green color. It develops a thick carpet that becomes dormant and straw-colored during winter. Seed heads are distinctive finger-like spikes (3-7 branches) arranged in a wheel-like (digitate) pattern.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (1.5–4mm), flat or folded in the bud; tips are sharply pointed. Ligule is a fringe of short hairs; auricles are absent. Leaf blades are usually hairless or with sparse hairs on the upper surface.
Root System
Extensive and deep (up to 6 feet in some soils); combination of stolons and deep rhizomes. Extremely fast establishment and high thatch-forming tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa and Asia; widely adapted to tropical, subtropical, and transition zones worldwide
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and Rhizomatous; highly aggressive, mat-forming
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8 hours); poor shade tolerance. Low to moderate watering once established; high drought tolerance due to deep roots.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 0.5 to 1.5 inches; high frequency required during peak growth. Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year. High maintenance; needs regular aeration and dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear and traffic tolerance; high salt tolerance; exceptional recovery ability from damage; invasive in garden beds.
Ecological Information
Introduced in North America; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; can be invasive to native ecosystems; used as high-quality forage for livestock.