Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild type)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, with some improved cold-hardy varieties surviving into Zone 6. Highly heat tolerant, goes dormant and turns brown when temperatures drop below 50°F.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with a medium texture and bright green color during the growing season. Turns straw-colored or brown upon entering winter dormancy. Unmowed height can reach 4-15 inches, while maintained turf is kept much lower. Seed heads consist of 3 to 7 digitate spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are flat to folded, 2-4mm wide, tapering to a pointed tip. Color ranges from light to dark green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles are absent, and the collar is continuous with a prominent ligule area.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending up to 6 feet or more in favorable soils. Fast establishment from seed, sprigs, or sod. High thatch-forming tendency under high maintenance, providing excellent drought recovery and wear tolerance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in warm-temperate to tropical climates globally.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, wear-resistant turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight) and cannot tolerate heavy shade. High drought tolerance through dormancy, but performs best with regular irrigation. Thrives in well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 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, regular fertilization (3-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year), and frequent dethatching or core aeration.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance making it ideal for sports fields and high-use lawns. Good drought recovery, moderate salt tolerance, and aggressive weed-crowd-out capabilities. Poor shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control due to dense root and stolon network. Can act as an invasive weed in agricultural fields or flower beds due to aggressive creeping habit.