Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type or standard selections)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, with some cold-hardy varieties surviving in transition zones.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with a fine to medium-coarse texture. Excellent wear tolerance and rapid recovery due to aggressive spreading structures. Medium-green color during active growth, going dormant and turning straw-brown with the first frost.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are short, flat, grayish-green to medium-green, with pointed tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending several feet into the soil, coupled with a dense network of rhizomes and stolons that form a tough sod and moderate to high thatch.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in warm regions globally
Growth Habit
Aggressive, spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight) and has good drought tolerance, going dormant during extreme dry spells and greening up upon receiving moisture.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 0.5 to 1.5 inches for turf, requires frequent mowing during peak growing season. Medium to high maintenance level depending on desired turf quality.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance, high recuperative ability, excellent drought and salt tolerance, but very poor shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced to many parts of the world for forage and turf; valued for erosion control and soil stabilization on slopes, though can act as an invasive weed in flower beds and cool-season lawns.