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 based on leaf texture and growth habit)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; excellent heat tolerance; poor shade tolerance; enters dormancy when soil temperatures drop below 50-55°F.
About This Grass
A dense, mat-forming grass with a medium-to-fine texture. It is grayish-green in color and turns tan or brown during winter dormancy. It features seed heads with 3-7 finger-like spikes (digitate) when left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are 2-4mm wide (medium texture), flat or slightly folded, with a sharply pointed tip. Vernation is folded. It has a fringe of hairs for a ligule, no auricles, and a narrow collar with long hairs on the edges.
Root System
Deep and fibrous root system exceeding 6 inches; produces significant thatch; rapid establishment and excellent recovery from wear due to aggressive stolon growth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and Asia; well-adapted to tropical, subtropical, and transition zone climates globally
Growth Habit
Highly aggressive, spreading via both rhizomes (underground) and stolons (above-ground runners)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8 hours minimum); high drought tolerance; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0; requires deep, infrequent watering during peak heat.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 1.0-2.0 inches; high frequency mowing (once or twice weekly); requires 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance due to rapid growth and thatch production.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear tolerance and recovery; high salt tolerance; excellent for erosion control; highly invasive in garden beds; moderate-to-high disease resistance (though susceptible to Spring Dead Spot).
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for disturbed sites; limited wildlife value as a monoculture; often thrives in companion with Clover or winter-overseeded Ryegrass.