Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7 through 11; high heat and salt tolerance; enters brown dormancy when soil temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C).
About This Grass
A low-growing, wiry perennial grass that forms a thick sod. It is medium to dark green in color, turning straw-colored during winter dormancy. It has high shoot density and a medium-fine texture.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are 2-4mm wide (medium-fine), flat or slightly folded, with a sharp-pointed tip. Color is typically grey-green to dark green. Vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a fringe of short white hairs; auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous system with both underground rhizomes and surface stolons. High thatch tendency; fast establishment; excellent wear recovery and high drought tolerance.
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; aggressive spreader that forms a dense, mat-like sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (minimum 6-8 hours); very poor shade tolerance. Low to moderate water needs once established; high drought tolerance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
1.0 - 2.5 inches height; frequent mowing required (1-2 times weekly); high nitrogen needs (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); requires periodic verticutting/dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear tolerance for sports and high traffic; superior drought recovery; salt tolerant; invasive in flower beds; high disease resistance to most common pathogens except Large Patch in spring/fall.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides forage for livestock; excellent for soil erosion control on slopes; can be invasive in non-turf areas; often blended with Ryegrass for winter color.