Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (or improved turf types like 'Tifway 419')
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10, with some cold-tolerant varieties surviving in Zone 6. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (goes dormant below 50°F and can suffer winter kill in freezing northern climates).
About This Grass
Forms a very dense, fine to medium-textured turf with a vibrant green color during the growing season; turns straw-brown and enters winter dormancy when temperatures drop. Grows quite low to the ground when mowed frequently, but can reach 6 to 12 inches if left unmowed, producing slender, finger-like seed heads (spikes) arranged in a digitate cluster.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are fine to medium in width (2-4mm), flat to folded, with pointed tips and a grayish-green to medium green color. Vernation is folded in the bud. The ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles are absent, and the collar is continuous with a distinct ligule area.
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system extending several feet into the soil, coupled with a dense network of rhizomes and stolons. Moderate to high thatch-forming tendency depending on fertility and management, fast establishment from seed, sprigs, or sod, and exceptional wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, now naturalized and widely cultivated worldwide in warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical climates
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, tight, wear-resistant turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 8-10 hours of direct sunlight daily; extremely poor shade tolerance). High drought tolerance once established, going dormant during severe drought and greening up rapidly upon receiving water. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 0.5 to 1.5 inches for hybrid types (up to 2 inches for common Bermuda). Requires frequent mowing (2 times per week during peak growth). High maintenance level, needing 3 to 6 lbs of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually, regular dethatching, and core aeration.
Special Characteristics
Outstanding traffic and wear recovery making it ideal for sports fields, golf courses, and high-use lawns. Good salt tolerance, aggressive weed-crowding ability, excellent drought recovery, and rapid lateral growth.
Ecological Information
Introduced to many parts of the world for forage and turf; can act as an invasive weed in agricultural settings. Provides limited wildlife value compared to native prairie grasses, but offers excellent soil stabilization, erosion control, and dust suppression in arid and semi-arid urban environments.