Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn, Turf, Pasture, and Sports Turf
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (likely non-hybrid variety based on visible growth pattern)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11. Excellent heat tolerance; poor cold tolerance. Goes dormant and turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 55°F.
About This Grass
A low-growing, dense green grass that forms a thick carpet. It has a fine to medium texture and remains relatively short. It turns brown/straw-colored during winter dormancy and produces distinct finger-like (digitate) seed heads at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium-fine width (1.5-3mm); flat or folded blades with pointed tips. Color is light to medium green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of white hairs; auricles are absent. Distinctive white hairs are often visible at the leaf collar.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system with extensive rhizomes and stolons. High thatch-forming tendency but very fast establishment. Excellent wear recovery and high drought tolerance due to root depth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa and Asia; widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical, and transition zone regions of the United States.
Growth Habit
Highly aggressive; both rhizomatous (underground) and stoloniferous (above-ground). Forms a dense, mat-forming sod.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun required; requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. High drought tolerance once established, though it requires regular watering in peak summer Heat to maintain green color. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 0.5 to 1.5 inches for common varieties. High frequency during peak growing season (weekly). Fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually. High maintenance; requires regular verticutting/dethatching and aeration.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic/wear tolerance; highly salt-tolerant; very poor shade tolerance. Fastest recovery rate of all warm-season grasses. High ability to crowd out weeds when managed properly.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides soil stabilization but can be invasive in garden beds. Serves as forage for livestock and provides seeds for birds/small mammals. Used in mixtures with ryegrass for winter overseeding.