Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common or 'Tifway 419' hybrid
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, excellent heat and drought tolerance, goes dormant and turns straw-colored below 50°F
About This Grass
Fine-textured to medium-textured turfgrass forming a dense, durable carpet. Height ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inches when maintained. Bright green color during active growth, turning tan and going dormant during winter frosts.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-3mm), flat blades with pointed tips, gray-green to light green color, folded in the bud (vernation), with a hairy or membranous fringe ligule and no auricles
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending several feet into the soil with extensive rhizomes and stolons; moderate to high thatch tendency, fast establishment and rapid wear recovery, forming a very tough sod
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa, widely naturalized in tropical and warm-temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Aggressive, spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (poor shade tolerance), high drought tolerance once established, low to moderate water needs, prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height 0.5 to 1.5 inches, frequent mowing required during peak growth, high fertilization needs (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), regular dethatching and aeration, high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance, excellent drought recovery, high salt tolerance, poor shade tolerance, aggressive weed-crowding ability, ideal for sports fields, golf courses, and southern lawns
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, provides good soil stabilization and erosion control due to dense root network, potential weed/invasive tendency in agricultural settings, low wildlife nesting value compared to native prairie grasses