Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season perennial, C4 metabolism
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Sports Turf, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; excellent heat tolerance; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy and turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 50°F.
About This Grass
A low-growing, mat-forming perennial. Unmowed it reaches 4-18 inches; maintained it is very dense. Color is medium to dark green during growth, turning tan/brown when dormant. Seed heads are 3-7 finger-like spikes (digitate) on a terminal stalk.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (1.5-4mm), flat or folded, with a sharp pointed tip. Color is typically grey-green to dark green. Vernation is folded. Ligule is a distinctive fringe of white hairs; auricles are absent; the collar is narrow and often has long hairs at the edges.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending 2-6 feet; prolific rhizomes and stolons create a dense sod with a high thatch-forming tendency and rapid establishment speed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical, and transition zone regions of the United States
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous and Stoloniferous; highly aggressive spreading habit with a rapid rate of spread
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (minimum 6-8 hours); poor shade tolerance. Low to moderate water needs once established; highly drought-tolerant; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 0.5-1.5 inches for common varieties; frequent mowing required (1-2 times weekly). Requires 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; high maintenance level due to rapid growth and dethatching needs.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic/wear tolerance and rapid recovery; high salt tolerance; highly invasive in garden beds; excellent for erosion control and heavy-use sports fields.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for slopes; low wildlife food value but provides cover; considered a noxious weed in some agricultural contexts due to invasiveness.