Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Sports Turf, and often considered an Invasive Weed in cool-season lawns
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (appears to be a non-hybrid naturalized variety based on coarse texture and open habit)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; excellent heat tolerance; enters dormancy and turns straw-colored when soil temperatures drop below 50-55°F.
About This Grass
A resilient, low-growing grass with a medium to coarse texture. It turns brown (dormant) in cold weather and exhibits a grey-green to medium-green color during the growing season. It features a characteristic wiry frame with short, flat blades.
Blade Characteristics
Bades are 2-4mm wide, flat, with a sharply pointed tip. Vernation is folded. It features a conspicuous fringe of hairs at the ligule and no auricles. Color is typically grey-green in this specimen.
Root System
Extremely deep and extensive fibrous root system with both rhizomes and stolons. High thatch-forming tendency and rapid establishment speed. Excellent wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical, and transition zones worldwide
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and Rhizomatous; aggressive spreading habit forming a dense mat via above-ground runners and underground stems
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8 hours daily); high drought tolerance once established; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 1.0-2.0 inches for common varieties; high frequency mowing required during peak summer; fertilization 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance due to aggressive growth.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic/wear tolerance; high salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance; exceptional ability to crowd out other plants; high recovery rate from injury.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Invasive in many regions; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; low wildlife food value but provides cover; often found with companion weeds like clover (visible in image).