Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, tolerates extreme summer heat well, goes dormant below 50 degrees Fahrenheit
About This Grass
A fine to medium-textured, vigorous warm-season grass with a dense growth habit, bright green to blue-green color during the active growing season, and going dormant into a straw-brown color during cold winter months
Blade Characteristics
Blades are flat, short, 2-4 mm wide, pointed at the tip, gray-green to bright green in color, rolled in the bud (vernation), with a hairy ligule and absent auricles
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system with extensive underground rhizomes and surface stolons, providing excellent drought resistance and fast recovery from wear
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, now widely naturalized and cultivated globally in warm climates
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons and rhizomes, forming a dense, durable turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight), moderate watering once established but highly drought-tolerant by entering dormancy, adapts to various well-drained soils
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height between 1.0 to 2.0 inches, frequent mowing needed during peak growth, high fertilization response, requires regular dethatching and aeration due to aggressive spreading
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance, excellent drought and salt tolerance, rapid recovery from damage, highly effective for erosion control and sports turfs
Ecological Information
Widely used for erosion control and livestock grazing, provides good ground cover, can behave aggressively and invade neighboring flower beds or native areas if unmanaged