Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass
Variety / Cultivar
'Tifway 419' (Hybrid Bermuda)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (enters winter dormancy and turns brown below 50°F).
About This Grass
Forms an extremely dense, fine-to-medium textured turf with bright green to dark green color. Height when unmowed reaches 4-12 inches, but typically maintained at a low height of 0.5-1.5 inches. Produces slender seed heads with 3-7 digital spikes at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-3mm), flat shape with pointed tips. Color is vibrant green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system with extensive underground rhizomes and surface stolons. Moderate to high thatch-forming tendency under high nitrogen. Rapid establishment speed from sod or plugs.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical regions, widely naturalized globally and used extensively in southern to transition zones of the US.
Growth Habit
Aggressive Stoloniferous and Rhizomatous combination, forming a dense, wear-resistant mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required, highly intolerant of shade. Moderate to high drought tolerance once established, going dormant under extreme drought. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inches using a reel or sharp rotary mower. High maintenance level requiring frequent mowing, high fertilization (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), and regular dethatching/aeration.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance with rapid injury recovery via stolons and rhizomes. Good salt tolerance and excellent drought recovery, but poor shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides excellent soil stabilization and erosion control due to its dense mat-forming roots and runners. Low wildlife food value compared to native grasses.