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 through 10 (and warmer parts of Zone 6). Excellent heat and drought tolerance, goes into winter dormancy when temperatures drop below 50°F.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda or similar fine-textured turf cultivars (e.g., 'Tifway')
About This Grass
A dense, fine-to-medium-textured warm-season turfgrass that forms a tough, tight sod. Maintains a vibrant green color during active summer growth and goes dormant (turning tan/straw-colored) with the first hard frost. Unmowed height can reach 4-12 inches, but typically maintained low at 0.5-2 inches. Produces slender digitate seed heads with 3-7 spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are flat, short, medium-fine (2-3 mm wide), tapering to a sharp point. Color is typically grayish-green to light green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. The collar region is continuous with prominent hairy ligules.
Root System
Extensive, deep root system reaching up to 6 feet or more in favorable soils, combined with aggressive surface stolons and underground rhizomes. Establishes quickly from sod or plugs, has low to moderate thatch tendency depending on management, and possesses exceptional drought recovery and wear tolerance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in southern and transition zones of the United States
Growth Habit
Aggressively stoloniferous and rhizomatous, forming a dense, low-growing mat with a rapid lateral spread
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight; very poor shade tolerance). High drought tolerance via dormancy, but needs regular moisture for optimal green turf. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 0.75 to 1.5 inches for home lawns (lower for golf courses). Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season. High fertilizer requirements (3-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year). High maintenance level overall, requiring regular dethatching, aeration, and edging to control aggressive spread.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance with rapid recuperative ability via stolons and rhizomes. Good salt tolerance. Excellent for erosion control on slopes. Highly competitive against weeds when actively growing and properly maintained.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control due to its extensive root and stolon network. Can act as an aggressive invasive weed in flower beds and non-turf areas adjacent to lawns. Frequently used in mixtures or as a standalone turf in warm climates.