Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (exhibiting traits of a standard variety or hybrid like Tifway due to density)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7–10; excellent heat tolerance; goes dormant and turns brown below 50°F; susceptible to winter kill in northern transition zones.
About This Grass
A dense, low-growing turf with a fine to medium texture. It maintains a deep green color during peak summer and turns straw-colored during winter dormancy. Features flat, short blades and distinct finger-like seed heads (spikes) when unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (1.5–4mm), flat or slightly V-shaped, pointed tips, medium to dark green color, folded vernation. Ligule is a fringe of white hairs; auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system combined with creeping rhizomes and stolons; high thatch tendency; fast establishment; exceptional wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical, and transition zones worldwide
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and Rhizomatous; aggressive, low-growing, mat-forming
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8+ hours); high drought tolerance once established; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0–7.0; requires regular rainfall or irrigation for best appearance.
Mowing & Maintenance
0.5 to 1.5 inches for hybrids, up to 2.5 for common; frequent mowing (1-2 times weekly); high fertilization (2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year); requires regular dethatching; High maintenance.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic/wear tolerance; high salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance; rapid recovery from damage; crowds out most weeds through dense growth habit.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in the US; excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control; low wildlife food value but provides cover; can be invasive in garden beds.