Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass, highly suitable for the transition zone
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved seedling selections or standard utility types)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10 (can survive in Zone 6 with cold-hardy cultivars); exceptional heat tolerance; goes dormant below 50°F; excellent for the transition zone
About This Grass
Forms a dense, fine to medium-textured turf with vibrant medium-to-dark green color during the growing season; goes completely dormant and turns tan/straw-colored in winter frosts; height can reach 6-12 inches if unmowed, but maintained at 0.5-2 inches; produces digitate spike seed heads on slender stems
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-fine (2-3 mm wide), flat to slightly folded, with pointed tips and a grayish-green to bright green color; rolled in the bud (vernation); ligule is a fringe of hairs; auricles are absent; collar is continuous with hairs or a light membrane
Root System
Deep fibrous root system extending several feet into the soil with both underground rhizomes and surface stolons; moderate to high thatch tendency; establishes rapidly from seed or vegetative plugs/sod; excellent drought tolerance and fast wear recovery
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to East Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in southern and transition zones of the US and similar climates globally
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both rhizomes and stolons, forming a dense, durable, mat-like turf
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (poor shade tolerance, requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight); moderate watering needs once established, exceptionally high drought tolerance through dormancy; prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 0.75 to 1.5 inches for home lawns (lower for golf courses); frequent mowing required due to rapid growth; high nitrogen fertilization needs (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); regular dethatching and aeration needed; high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Outstanding traffic and wear tolerance, excellent recuperative ability from damage, good salt tolerance, highly drought resistant, aggressively crowds out weeds, widely used for athletic fields, golf courses, and residential lawns
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes; moderate wildlife value; can become an invasive weed in agricultural settings or garden beds; commonly managed as a monoculture turf