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 internode spacing)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11. Highly heat tolerant; goes dormant in winter; sensitive to prolonged freezing temperatures.
About This Grass
A low-growing, dense turf grass with a medium-to-coarse texture. It exhibits a deep green color during active growth but turns straw-colored and dormant in temperatures below 50°F. Matures into a thick carpet that crowds out most weeds.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are 2-4mm wide, flat, and taper to a pointed tip. Vernation is folded in the bud. Color is typically a medium to dark green. It features a conspicuous fringe of hairs at the ligule and lacks auricles.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous root system with both rhizomes and stolons. Exceptional establishment speed; forms a heavy thatch layer and provides high wear recovery and drought tolerance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and Asia; widely adapted to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the Southern United States.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and Rhizomatous; aggressive spreader that forms a dense, mat-like sod through above-ground stolons and below-ground rhizomes.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires at least 6-8 hours daily); low shade tolerance. Moderate water needs with high drought tolerance; prefers well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8 to 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 0.5 to 1.5 inches. Requires frequent mowing (once or twice weekly). Fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year. Needs periodic vertical mowing to manage thatch. High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic and wear tolerance; high salt tolerance; rapid recovery from injury; susceptible to Large Patch (Rhizoctonia) and Spring Dead Spot; highly invasive in garden beds.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides soil stabilization on slopes; limited wildlife food value but provides cover; can be invasive in non-turf areas; often used in monocultures or over-seeded with Ryegrass.