Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10; excellent heat tolerance; goes completely dormant during cold winters; widely used in the transition zone and southern climates
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common or hybrid varieties like 'Tifway 419', known for fine texture and dense turf
About This Grass
Forms a tight, dense turf with a medium-fine texture; grayish-green to blue-green color; goes dormant and turns straw-colored with the first frost; seed heads consist of 3 to 7 slender spikes arranged digitally
Blade Characteristics
Medium-fine blades (2-3 mm wide), flat or folded, pointed tips, grayish-green, rolled in the bud, ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles absent, broad hairy collar
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system with extensive rhizomes and stolons; moderate to high thatch tendency; establishes rapidly from sod or seed; excellent drought tolerance and fast wear recovery
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in southern regions
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, wear-resistant mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (poor shade tolerance); high drought tolerance through dormancy; requires moderate water for optimal appearance; prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 0.5 to 1.5 inches for hybrid varieties or 1.0 to 2.0 inches for common types; frequent mowing required during peak growth; high fertilizer needs (3-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year); frequent dethatching and aeration needed; high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance making it ideal for sports fields; good salt tolerance; rapid recovery from damage; excellent erosion control; aggressive grower that can crowd out weeds
Ecological Information
Introduced in many parts of the world; provides good soil stabilization and erosion control; low wildlife food value compared to native grasses; can become invasive in agricultural settings or garden beds