Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type / general turf)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10. Excellent heat tolerance, goes dormant and turns straw-colored with the first hard frost.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with a medium-fine texture. Bright green to grayish-green color during the active growing season. Can reach up to 6-12 inches if unmoved, but maintained as a short lawn at 0.5-2 inches. Produces slender, finger-like spike seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-fine (2-3 mm wide), flat, tapering to a pointed tip. Color is light to dark green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system going down several feet in well-drained soils, combined with extensive rhizomes and stolons. Moderate to high thatch tendency, fast establishment speed from seed or sprigs, excellent wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in warm temperate to tropical regions globally.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, tight sod.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (poor shade tolerance). High drought tolerance via dormancy, but requires moderate to high water for active lush growth. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 0.75 to 1.5 inches for home lawns. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season due to rapid growth. High nitrogen fertilizer requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year). High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance, making it ideal for sports fields and golf courses. Good salt tolerance, highly drought resistant, aggressive weed suppression once established.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control. Can behave invasively in agricultural settings or garden beds due to aggressive spreading stolons and rhizomes.