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 or standard seeded varieties)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10 (and warmer parts of 6 with proper care). Excellent heat tolerance; moderate to poor cold tolerance resulting in winter dormancy and brown color below 50°F.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing, fine to medium-textured turf. Bright to dark green color during the growing season, entering winter dormancy and turning straw-brown with the first hard frost. Height ranges from 0.5 to 2 inches when maintained, and up to 6-12 inches if unmown. Produces digitate raceme seed heads consisting of 3 to 7 slender spikes radiating from a single point.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-3mm), flat blades with pointed tips. Bright green to grayish-green color. Rolled in the bud (vernation). Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. Distinct collar region with hairs.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system going down several feet in favorable soils, complemented by vigorous rhizomes and stolons. High drought tolerance due to deep roots; moderate to high thatch-forming tendency depending on fertility and watering; rapid establishment from seed or vegetative plugs/sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in warm temperate to tropical regions globally.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, durable turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight; poor shade tolerance). High drought tolerance once established, entering dormancy during prolonged dry spells and greening up rapidly upon receiving water. 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. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season due to rapid vertical and horizontal growth. High fertility needs (3-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually for optimal turf). Regular dethatching and core aeration required. High maintenance level when kept manicured.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance with rapid recuperative ability from damage. Good salt tolerance. Excellent erosion control due to dense matting root/stolon network. Widely used for home lawns, golf course fairways/tees, and sports fields.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control, reducing runoff and filtering water. Low wildlife food value compared to native grasses, though used for cover by small animals. Can become an invasive agricultural weed in crop fields or flower beds due to aggressive spreading stolons.