Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Sports Turf, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (appears to be a non-hybrid, common type based on the coarse texture and visible leaf structure)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; excellent heat tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 50-55°F.
About This Grass
A low-growing, grey-green grass that spreads via tough surface runners (stolons) and underground stems (rhizomes). When stressed or dormant, as seen in the photo, it turns a straw-colored tan. It features a coarse to medium-fine texture depending on maintenance, with seed heads that look like a bird's foot (terminal spikes).
Blade Characteristics
Blades are typically 2-4mm wide, flat or slightly folded, with a pointed tip. Vernation is folded in the bud. The ligule is a fringe of white hairs, and auricles are absent. The leaf color is dark to light green, though the provided image shows significant browning due to dormancy or drought.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous root system with both rhizomes and stolons; excellent drought tolerance and rapid recovery from wear; tends to form heavy thatch if not managed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa; widely adapted to tropical, subtropical, and transition zones worldwide (USDA zones 7-11)
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and Rhizomatous; highly aggressive spreader forming a dense, mat-like sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (minimum 6+ hours); very high drought tolerance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5; requires infrequent but deep watering once established.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 1 to 2 inches for common varieties; high frequency required during peak summer growth; fertilization of 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year; high maintenance.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic/wear tolerance; high salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance; rapid recovery rate; capable of crowding out most weeds when healthy.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; can be invasive in garden beds; often mixed with Ryegrass for winter color (overseeding).