Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Invasive/Weed Grass in these conditions
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (likely degraded or naturalized ecotype)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; excellent heat tolerance; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy when temperatures drop below 50°F.
About This Grass
A low-growing, grey-green mat-forming grass that turns straw-colored when dormant. Features fine to medium texture with sharp, pointed leaf blades. Seed heads are distinctive finger-like spikes (3-7 spikes) arranged in a digitiform cluster.
Blade Characteristics
Width 1.5-3mm; flat or slightly folded; pointed tips; grey-green to dark green; vernation is folded; ligule is a fringe of white hairs; auricles are absent; conspicuous hair tufts often present at the collar.
Root System
Deeply fibrous with extensive rhizomes and stolons; very high thatch-forming tendency; extremely fast establishment; high drought tolerance and rapid wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized across the Southern US and tropical/subtropical climates worldwide
Growth Habit
Highly aggressive; both Rhizomatous (underground) and Stoloniferous (above ground runners)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires at least 6-8 hours); high drought tolerance once established; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0; needs moderate water during active growth.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 0.5-1.5 inches; high frequency (1-2 times per week); high nitrogen requirement (2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year); high maintenance for turf quality.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance; high salt tolerance; very poor shade tolerance; prone to Dollar Spot and Spring Dead Spot; can become highly invasive in flower beds or mixed lawns.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides minimal wildlife value; excellent soil stabilizer for erosion control; often outcompetes native species due to rapid lateral spread.