Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass, highly adapted to the transition zone
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (uncultivated wild-type seedlings establishing from seed)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance, poor shade tolerance, goes completely dormant and turns straw-colored during winter freezes (below 50F growth slows, frost causes dormancy).
About This Grass
Fine to medium-textured warm-season grass with a bright green to grayish-green color during the active growing season. Forms a dense, low-growing carpet via vigorous stolons and rhizomes. Unmowed height can reach 6 to 12 inches, but it is typically maintained much lower. Produces digitate seed heads with 3 to 7 spiked racemes radiating from a single point.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium in width (2-4mm), flat, tapering to a pointed tip, and colored light to medium green. Vernation is folded in the bud. The ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent. The collar region is continuous with prominent hairs.
Root System
Extensive, deep fibrous root system often reaching several feet into the soil, supplemented by thick rhizomes and surface stolons. Rapid establishment from seed under warm conditions, excellent drought tolerance, and exceptional wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated across 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 daily). High drought tolerance once established, going dormant during severe drought or cold. Requires moderate to high moisture for optimal growth, but tolerates dry conditions well. 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 (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually for optimal turf). Regular dethatching and core aeration are required due to heavy thatch production. High maintenance level overall.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance, making it a favorite for sports fields and high-traffic lawns. Recovers rapidly from damage via stolons and rhizomes. Good salt tolerance. Excellent erosion control capability. Poor shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America where widely cultivated. Provides low wildlife nesting value compared to native prairie grasses, but serves as grazing forage. Excellent soil stabilization due to dense root and runner network. Can act as an aggressive invasive weed in flower beds and cool-season lawns due to rapid lateral spread.