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 Grass (appears to be a non-hybrid variety due to slightly coarser texture and higher seed-head potential seen in typical home lawn settings)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; excellent heat tolerance; goes dormant and turns brown below 50°F (10°C); moderate cold hardiness compared to other warm-season grasses.
About This Grass
A low-growing, dense turfgrass with a medium-to-fine texture. It is medium green during the growing season and turns straw-brown when dormant in winter. It spreads rapidly via surface runners and underground stems.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 2-4mm (medium); flat or slightly folded; pointed tips; gray-green to medium green color; folded vernation; ligule is a fringe of white hairs; auricles are absent; conspicuous hairs often present at the leaf collar.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous root system with both rhizomes and stolons; high establishment speed; forms thick thatch; excellent drought tolerance and rapid recovery from wear.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa; widely adapted to tropical, subtropical, and transition zone climates globally
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and rhizomatous; highly aggressive grower that forms a dense, mat-forming sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (minimum 6-8 hours); poor shade tolerance; medium water needs but high drought survival; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 0.5 to 1.5 inches; high frequency (1-2 times per week); high nitrogen needs (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); high maintenance level requiring frequent dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic and wear tolerance; high salt tolerance; rapid recuperative ability; highly invasive in flower beds; moderate disease resistance (susceptible to Large Patch and Spring Dead Spot).
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; can be invasive in non-turf areas; often blended with perennial ryegrass for winter color (overseeding).