Bermuda Grass (understory to Prairie Fleabane)
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Chloridoideae, Tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Invasive/Weed Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (likely naturalized/wild type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; high heat tolerance; poor cold tolerance; goes dormant below 50°F (10°C).
About This Grass
A low-growing, dense mat-forming grass with a medium-to-fine texture. It turns brown/dormant in winter. Often found as a basal layer beneath taller broadleaf weeds like the Erigeron species shown in the image.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-4mm), flat or slightly folded, with a distinctive pointed tip. Gray-green to dark green color, featuring a fringe of hairs as a ligule and no auricles.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous system coupled with rhizomes; low thatch in wild types but high in hybrids; exceptionally fast establishment and high wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
African and Asian origin; naturalized globally in tropical and subtropical regions
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both rhizomes (underground) and stolons (above ground)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours); very high drought tolerance; prefers well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintenance height of 0.5 to 2.5 inches; requires high nitrogen fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft) for turf quality; low to medium maintenance in wild settings.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance and salt tolerance; high drought recovery; considered a noxious weed in some agricultural contexts due to invasive spreading.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; can crowd out native species in prairie restorations if not managed.