Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type or standard turf cultivars like 'Princess 77' or 'Riviera')
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10 (and warmer parts of Zone 6); excellent heat tolerance; goes completely dormant and turns brown when temperatures consistently drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit
About This Grass
Forms a dense, fine-to-medium textured turf with bright green to grayish-green color during the growing season; goes dormant and turns straw-brown in winter when temperatures drop; height ranges from 0.5 to 2 inches when maintained; seed heads consist of 3 to 7 digitate spikes branching from a single point
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-3mm), flat, tapering to a pointed tip; grayish-green to blue-green color; folded in the bud (vernation); prominent ligule is a fringe of hairs; collar is continuous with small hairs; auricles are absent
Root System
Deep fibrous root system extending down several feet in favorable soils; highly vigorous establishment from stolons, rhizomes, and seed; moderate to high thatch tendency under heavy fertilization; provides exceptional drought tolerance and rapid wear recovery
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide, widely cultivated in Southern US, transition zone, and tropical climates globally
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, wear-resistant mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight); highly intolerant of shade; moderate water needs for optimal appearance, but exhibits high drought tolerance by going into dormancy during severe dry spells; prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 0.75 to 1.5 inches; requires frequent mowing during peak growing season (twice weekly for reel mowers or weekly for rotary); high nitrogen requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); requires regular dethatching and core aeration; high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance; rapid recuperative ability from damage; good salt tolerance; highly effective for erosion control; poor shade tolerance; can become an aggressive weed in flower beds due to spreading stolons and rhizomes
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides limited wildlife food value compared to native grasses but excellent ground cover and erosion control on slopes; often used alongside overseeded cool-season grasses for winter color in southern regions