Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, excellent heat tolerance, goes dormant and turns brown with first hard frost
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type / naturalized)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with grayish-green to blue-green leaves. Can grow 4-15 inches tall if left unmowed. Produces slender digitated seed heads with 3-7 spikes radiating from a single point.
Blade Characteristics
Medium-fine blades (2-3mm wide), flat to folded, pointed tips, gray-green to light green color, rolled in the bud (vernation), with a hairy ligule and absent auricles
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending 6 feet or more into soil, featuring vigorous rhizomes and stolons; establishes rapidly from seed or vegetative parts and forms a dense, tough sod
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to East Africa and tropical regions of the Old World, widely naturalized and cultivated globally in warm climates
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, very poor shade tolerance), high drought tolerance once established, prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 0.5 to 1.5 inches for optimal turf quality, requires frequent mowing during peak growing season, high fertilizer requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance, rapid recovery from damage, good salt tolerance, excellent drought recovery, aggressive competitor against weeds
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, provides good erosion control on slopes, low wildlife value for food compared to native grasses, can become an invasive weed in agricultural fields and flower beds